BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Back in the United States, the American soccer team quickly got back on track toward qualifying for next year's World Cup.

Scoring sensation Eddie Johnson put the United States ahead in the 11th minute and set up Steve Ralston's goal in the 68th in a key 2-0 victory over Guatemala on Wednesday.

"Not scoring in Mexico, I was kind of down," Johnson said. "I knew I had to be better this game."

Johnson, stopped by goalkeeper Richard Trigueno on an audacious bicycle kick in the second half, has eight goals in eight international appearances, an astonishing figure that has caused European clubs to express interest in acquiring him from Major League Soccer's Dallas team. Seven of the goals have come in World Cup qualifiers, tying him with Brian McBride for second on the U.S. career list, two behind Earnie Stewart.

"Obviously, the first goal was a great goal and obviously took a little bit of pressure off of us," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said.

Just three days after playing tentatively and conservatively in a dismal 2-1 loss at Mexico, the Americans entertained with a high-octane performance, outshooting the Guatemalans 19-10, including 14-3 in the first half.

"It was an avalanche at difference points against us," Guatemala coach Ramon Maradiaga said through a translator.

By winning their first home game in the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, the Americans improved to 2-1 for six points, one behind Mexico (2-0-1), which tied 1-1 at Panama (0-1-2). Next with four points are Guatemala (1-1-1) and Costa Rica (1-1-1), which was held to a 0-0 tie at Trinidad and Tobago (0-2-1).

"We showed that we are who we are and who we should be," goalkeeper Kasey Keller said. "This is exactly where we wanted to be."

U.S. players are confident they will advance to their fifth straight World Cup and were surprised so much was made of the weekend loss in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.

"We play I don't know if it was 15, 16 games without losing, we have really one bad half, one bad 5 minutes in Mexico against a very good team at an incredible altitude and in nasty smog, and all of a sudden we're the worst team in CONCACAF," Landon Donovan, who jetted off to Los Angeles after the game to join the Galaxy.

"It just makes some peace and quiet for a week, so that people can leave us alone," he said.

The Americans were forced to make changes because DaMarcus Beasley was suspended for getting his second yellow card of qualifying and captain Claudio Reyna sprained an ankle during Sunday's game.

A patriotic red-white-and-blue crowd was expected at Legion Field by the U.S. Soccer Federation. But, surprisingly, the majority of fans at gametime consisted of blue-clad Guatemalan supporters. They filled the old football stadium with the sound of their national anthem, and cheered loudly for the Chapines.

"We had 110,000 rooting against us the other day," Arena said he told the team before the game. "Now we have a real home-field advantage. We cut that number down by about 90,000."

Once play began, however, chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" took over.

"The good ol' boys took over," Keller said.

Pablo Mastroeni started the first goal with a through pass to Donovan, who let Johnson run onto the ball. Johnson's left-footed shot from 12 yards hit the right post, then rebounded across the goalmouth and into the left side of the net.

On the second, Eddie Lewis crossed the ball into the center, where Johnson flicked it with his head to Ralston, who hopped over a defender and beat Trigueno from short range.

"We're right on schedule," Arena said.

Notes:

Carlos Ruiz, traded by Los Angeles to Dallas earlier in the day so the Galaxy can acquire Donovan, received a yellow card in the 73rd for diving and will be suspended for Guatemala's June 4 qualifier against Mexico. ... Arena said Reyna should be able to play for Manchester City this weekend.