The USMNT did as expected on Friday afternoon against St Vincent and the Grenadines, winning 5-0 at Arnos Vale Ground in Kingston, St Vincent. The win gives the USMNT ten points in Group C after four games played in the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. They trail group leaders Trinidad & Tobago by a point. The two teams meet on Tuesday in Jacksonville (8pm ET - Fox Sports 1) in the final match day of Group C. The USMNT needs a win to finish top of the group.
Bobby Wood opened the scoring for the USMNT in the 28th minute with Fabian Johnson assisting. Matt Besler made it 2-0 in the 32nd. Wood was brought down in the box from a harsh tackle, setting up Jozy Altidore's successful penalty in the 43rd minute. USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann made two changes in the 66th minute, bringing on Sacha Kljestan and Christian Pulisic. Kljestan setup Pulisic's goal in the 71st minute with Pulisic returning the favor for Kljestan six minutes later. Kljestan found Pulisic at the top of the box for the USMNT's six goal in stoppage time.
The USMNT now returns to Jacksonville to prepare for Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago (8pm ET - Fox Sports 1). USMNT player DeAndre Yedlin will miss that game due to yellow card accumulation. Captain Michael Bradley returns to the squad, missing the St Vincent game due to card accumulation.
In the other Group C game, Trinidad & Tobago drew 2-2 with Guatemala in Port of Spain. Carlos Ruiz put Guatemala up in the 36th minute. Joevin Jones equalized for Trinidad in first-half stoppage time and gave them the lead in the 62nd. Ruiz equalized in the 87th. The point has Guatemala in 3rd-place, trailing the USMNT by three points. The problem for Guatemala is that the first tiebreaker in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying is goal difference. Should the USMNT lose to Trinidad & Tobago and Guatemala beats St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guatemala would also need to overcome the USMNT's +12 goal difference advantage.
Costa Rica and Panama advanced in Group B. In Group A, Mexico already advanced and Honduras has a three-point lead and +5 on the tiebreaker over Canada. Canada lost 2-1 at Honduras. They finish against El Salvador at BC Place.
-- GAME REPORT --
Match: US Men’s National Team vs. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Date: September 2, 2016
Competition: 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying; Semifinal Round
Venue: Arnos Vale Stadium; St. Vincent
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: TBD
Weather: 91 degrees, sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 3 3 6
VIN 0 0 0
USA – Bobby Wood (Fabian Johnson) 28th minute
USA – Matt Besler 32
USA – Jozy Altidore (penalty) 43
USA – Christian Pulisic (Sacha Kljestan) 71
USA – Sacha Kljestan (Christian Pulisic) 78
USA – Christian Pulisici (Sacha Kljestan) 90+2
Lineups:
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 20-Geoff Cameron, 5-Matt Besler, 4-Kellyn Acosta; 19-Graham Zusi, 15-Kyle Beckerman, 11-Alejandro Bedoya (16-Sacha Kljestan, 66), 23-Fabian Johnson (10-Christian Pulisic, 66); 17-Jozy Altidore (capt.) (8-Jordan Morris, 72), 7-Bobby Wood
Subs not used: 12-Tim Howard, 22- Ethan Horvath, 14-Paul Arriola, 21-Steve Birnbaum, 3-Omar Gonzalez, 6-Darlington Nagbe, 9-Rubio Rubin, 13-Caleb Stanko, 18-Chris Wondolowski
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
VIN: 1-Christopher Lemus; 3-Roy Richards, 5-Shawn Benjamin, 8-Theon Gordon (6-Teron Miller, 73) (capt.), 20-Ajrue Durham, 17-Emerald George (16-Daniel Patrick, 68), 10-Oalex Anderson, 13-Gavin James (12-Tevin Slater, 53), 11-Cornelius Stewart, 9-Myron Samuel, 7-Nazir McBernette
Subs not used: 22-Jahvan Peters, 2-Danroy Edwards, 14-Ezra Alleyne, 15-Kevin Frances
Head Coach: Cornelius Huggins
Stats Summary: USA / VIN
Shots: 12 / 1
Shots on Goal: 11 / 1
Saves: 1 / 5
Corner Kicks: 6 / 3
Fouls: 8 / 13
Offside: 0 / 4
Misconduct Summary:
USA – DeAndre Yedlin (caution) 13th minute
VIN – Emerald George (caution) 17
VIN – Theon Gordon (caution) 39
VIN – Roy Richards (caution) 43
Officials:
Referee: Mathieu Bourdeau (CAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Philippe Briere (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Belleau (CAN)
4th Official: Drew Fischer (CAN)
