The U.S. Men’s National Team continued their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the CONCACAF Hexagonal stage at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.
Sporting Kansas City defenders Matt Besler and Graham Zusi were both called up to the U.S. MNT for Thursday’s game, but neither featured in the win.
The first half ended scoreless despite both sides enjoying open opportunities to take the lead, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Kenwyne Jones going closest with a header that crashed off the bar. The U.S. went close throughout the first half, with Clint Dempsey firing narrowly over while John Brooks, Jozy Altidore and Jorge Villafana all saw efforts saved by Jan-Michael Williams.
In the second period, U.S. prodigy Christian Pulisic took control of the matchup by scoring twice in a 10-minute span. The 18-year-old midfielder first got the finishing touch on a sumptuous low cross from Deandre Yedlin in the 52nd minute before latching onto Altidore’s through ball in the 62nd minute to fire beyond Williams and make the final score 2-0.
Besler, Zusi and the U.S. will next head south to take on Hex leaders Mexico at Estadio Azteca this Sunday, June 11. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on FOX Sports 1, Univision and UDN.
Hexagonal Standings
Team |
PTS |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mexico |
13 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
1 |
+7 |
Costa Rica |
8 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
+4 |
<strong>USA</strong> |
<strong>7</strong> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong>10</strong> |
<strong>7</strong> |
<strong>+3</strong> |
Panama |
6 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
Honduras |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
12 |
-8 |
Trinidad & Tobago |
3 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
-6 |
