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Clint Dempsey scored twice to give the U.S. a convincing win over Guatemala on Tuesday. Reuters

After conceding an early goal to Carlos Ruiz, there was fear that the U.S. might actually fail to advance for the final round of World Cup qualifying, but the Yanks came storming back with three unanswered goals at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City on Tuesday, 3-1.

Ruiz scored off a defensive break down with a break away goal in the fifth minute.

It didn't take long for the U.S. to come back. Five minutes after Ruiz's strike, the U.S. received a goal from captain Carlos Bocanegra, and then added two more from Clint Dempsey in the 18th and 36th minute.

The U.S. controlled the ball for 80 percent of the match, but failed to put enough pressure on the Guatemala goal. Despite their agressive play, the Yanks took just five shots with three on target.

"The team stepped it up and we created the amount of chances we wanted to, I wished we could have had some goals in the second half too but I thought the performance was really, really good," said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

The U.S. will now take part in the final qualifying stage for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in CONCACAF. Even with the loss, Guatemala have advanced to the final round of qualifying.

The two nations will be joined by Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, and Honduras.

Mexico