COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- Freddy Adu has been hyped and heralded since the day he burst onto the soccer scene.

However, extreme talent doesn't impress nearly as much as production.

Adu scored his first goal as a member of the U.S. national team and Jozy Altidore assisted on Kenny Cooper's sliding shot, leading the Americans to a 2-0 win over Guatemala in a World Cup qualifier on a cool Wednesday night.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley has been trying to keep Adu humble and grounded, even with all the notoriety he receives.

''One of the most important things with Freddy is making sure he understands that while it's really nice that a lot is said and written about him that none of it matters when he walks through the door to the national team,'' Bradley said. ''The understanding of how to earn the respect of his teammates by the way he plays, the understanding of how to do things on the field that will help us win -- those things come first.''

The Americans improved to 27-1-7 in home qualifiers since May 1985. The win also prevents Guatemala (1-3-2) from advancing out of Group 1.

With a spot in next year's regional finals already assured, the U.S. national team (5-1) went with a largely inexperienced lineup, leaving Landon Donovan and Carlos Bocanegra out.

The youth certainly didn't disappoint as Adu and Altidore stepped up, especially in the second half, when the Americans scored both goals.

Adu, clad in deep red-colored cleats, curled a shot into the left corner on a free kick just outside the penalty box in the 69th minute. A diving Ricardo Jerez didn't have a chance on Adu's well-placed shot.

The play was set up after Altidore was grabbed by Yony Flores as he flew past the Guatemalan defender. Flores was given a yellow card for the hold.

The 19-year-old Adu talked Sacha Kljestan into letting him take the kick.

''We were having a long conversation,'' Adu said, laughing. ''Sacha goes, 'All right, I'm hitting this.' I go, 'From here? You crazy?' He goes, 'All right, if you score I won't talk.' ''

Kljestan won't say a word after Adu scored his first goal with the national team.

''It's great,'' Adu said. ''It definitely helps your confidence.''

His play might've also earned him more playing time with AS Monaco of the French league.

Adu said the club's coach and president were planning to watch the match. He's on a season-long loan to the club from Portugal's Benfica.

''I'm on the brink of getting a start on Monaco,'' Adu said. ''Hopefully, this helps.''

The U.S. scored early in the second half when Altidore assisted on Cooper's goal, collecting a pass and then lining the ball into the box, where a sliding Cooper knocked it by Jerez.

Altidore, who just turned 19, was taken out of the game in the 76th minute, and Adu departed seven minutes later.

Both were given a hearty round of applause from a sparse but enthusiastic crowd that endured 41-degree temperatures.

''Those two guys are the future of this team, if they can continue improving on the defensive end,'' team captain Pablo Mastroeni said. ''Offensively, I think they're gifted. Tonight, they showed it.''

The kids were definitely all right in this match.

''It says a lot. We're trying to keep up with the rest of the world,'' Altidore said. ''We have to keep progressing. That's the only way we're going to survive. I think we're doing good developing young players, and there's going to be even better ones coming up.''

Mastroeni was given a yellow card in the 78th minute. It was his second in qualifying, meaning he misses the next match.

He wasn't pleased with the card.

''The way the game was going, it was a weak yellow,'' Mastroeni said. ''It wasn't from behind. My reputation precedes me a bit. That's the way it goes.''