By Dylan Butler

WASHINGTON - Standing on the RFK Stadium sod he knows so well, Santino Quaranta tried to compose himself as he listened to the Star Spangled Banner, wearing the United States jersey for the first time in three years.

"It was a very special night for me," the 24-year-old said. "To be back wearing the jersey was probably more special. To listen to the anthem was very emotional for me. It's been such a fun and long road back."

The D.C. United midfielder journey back to the national team was long and arduous. Once considered one of the bright young American stars, Quaranta was selected eighth overall in the 2001 Major League Soccer SuperDraft by D.C. United as a 16-year-old.

In 2005, the Baltimore native earned his first cap in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup and converted a penalty kick in a shootout victory against Panama in the final at Giants Stadium.

But then Quaranta's life bottomed in 2007, the result of drug addiction. He checked himself into a rehabilitation center and worked his way back to sobriety. A tattoo on his arm serves a reminder of the date he became clean.

"I just wanted to come back and be a good person," he said. "Once that all started to fall into place, soccer came next and I've been enjoying life. I've been very happy off the field."

Quaranta's return to prominence in MLS last year was remarkable, and he could be selected to the league's annual All-Star Game later this month.

"He has obviously worked hard in many different ways to be here tonight," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "I think that's obviously a very special part of the evening."

Then came another milestone, his first call-up to the national team in three years and a start against Honduras in Washington.

"To be able to do it in front of my wife and two kids was very special," Quaranta said. "That's the most important thing for me now. Bob said before that it's only a game and I was trying to tell myself all day just to enjoy, but it was difficult."

It couldn't get better than this, stepping back onto the field with the U.S. national team, playing in front of friends and family at RFK.

Oh, but it did.

As if scripted, Quaranta scored the winning goal in the 75th minute, putting Charlie Davies' layoff low and hard to the left of Honduran goalkeeper Donis Escobar from the top of the penalty area.

Brian Ching added an insurance goal four minutes later and the United States took control of Group B with a 2-0 win against Honduras in front of 26,079.

"There were a million things went through my head when I scored," Quaranta said. "I was more proud to have done it here. Anywhere you score for you country it's special, but to do it here at RFK where it all started for me is special."

The emotional moment certainly wasn't lost on Quaranta's teammates, including goalkeeper Troy Perkins, who played with the midfielder at D.C. United in 2006 and 2007.

"It's only fitting that Santino got the first goal and it's a great strike, a typical Santino strike," he said. "He is one hell of a guy."

"The guy has battled through a lot, he deserves this," Perkins added. "It's incredible, he scores a goal and obviously on his home pitch."