<h3 style="text-align: justify"><em>Jurgen Klinsmann paid tribute to US striker Clint Dempsey after his two-goal blast fired the Americans to an opening Gold Cup victory over Honduras.</em></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">Dempsey had been relieved of the US captaincy before the tournament by Klinsmann after he was suspended for tearing up a referee's notebook during a US club match.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Klinsmann instead handed the captain's armband to Michael Bradley, explaining he wanted Dempsey to focus solely on scoring goals as the US attempt to retain their Gold Cup crown.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The veteran Seattle striker repaid Klinsmann's support with both goals in a 2-1 win on Tuesday that fired the Americans to the top of Group A.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Klinsmann said Dempsey's performance had vindicated the captaincy decision.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We made that decision and he was absolutely on board with it," Klinsmann said.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I was a striker myself, and when you go through those moments where he made a mistake and did something wrong, all you want to do is move on," the World Cup winner said.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"As a striker you want to score. You live for that as a striker. You just want to put that ball in the net, which he did now two times ... tonight. Hea s in a good spirit and the atmosphere within the team is outstanding.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"Ita s very positive and thata s what keeps a striker feeling right."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Dempsey will now look to add to his goal-haul in the United States second match on Friday against Haiti at Foxborough, Massachusetts.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Dempsey said the captaincy decision had not affected his performance.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I always approach the game the same, just go out and try to help my team win," he said. "It's the same situation in Seattle. I'm not the captain there. So I just enjoy playing, going out and helping the team win. That's what I've always done."</p> <p style="text-align: justify"> . <strong>By AFP</strong></p>