WASHINGTON — Santino Quaranta couldn't have asked for a better setting to score his first goal as a member of the U.S. national team.

Quaranta was making his first appearance for the United States in more than three years, and the member of MLS' D.C. United broke a scoreless tie in the 75th minute before his home fans at RFK Stadium to help the Americans beat Honduras, 2-0.

Brian Ching, a Kamehameha Schools alum from Hale'iwa, followed Quaranta's goal with a header four minutes later to seal the win.

"It's hard to explain how special it is," Quaranta said. "I was trying to tell myself all day just to enjoy it, but it was difficult."

Quaranta publicly acknowledged he had battled drug and alcohol addictions the past few years before getting another chance with D.C. United last year. That's where he started his MLS career in 2001. Now, his road to recovery has made it all the way to the national squad.

"To listen to the anthem was very emotional for me," Quaranta said. "It's been a fun, long road back."

The United States, two-time defending champion in the competition contested among the countries of North and Central America and the Caribbean, is 23-0-1 in Gold Cup group play.

The Americans are 2-0 and lead Group B going into their final first-round match against Haiti on Saturday in Foxborough, Mass., where a draw will be enough to clinch the group and move into the quarterfinals.

Honduras (1-1) will face winless Grenada, also in Foxborough. Haiti (1-1) beat Grenada in the first game of yesterday's doubleheader, 2-0.

Quaranta took a short pass from Charlie Davies, who replaced Freddy Adu in the 64th minute, at the top of the penalty box and fired in his first goal for the national team.

"There were times in the game we couldn't find the right rhythm," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "But I think there was still a good understanding of pushing the tempo. When we push the game for 90 minutes, we think that's an advantage for us."