Wood’s equalizing goal gets US out of Honduras with 1-1 draw
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras
The legs were heavy and the tension high in the 85th minute at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, where exuberant fans had been cheering and blowing vuvuzelas nonstop.
The United States was losing to Honduras in a World Cup qualifier played in searing lateafternoon tropical heat, just a few minutes from falling into a deep hole that would jeopardize the Americans' streak of seven straight World Cup appearances.
Bobby Wood then silenced the crowd, scoring from short-range off a scramble following a free kick. The U.S. escaped from Honduras with a 1-1 tie Tuesday.
“Huge point. Great point,” U.S. captain Michael Bradley. “In a lot of moments it has nothing to do with football. It's about finding a way to survive and dealing with everything that gets thrown at you, having a group that can hold up in the toughest moments.”
Playing from behind after Romell Quioto put the Catrachos ahead in the 27th minute , the U.S. remained third in the North and Central American and Caribbean region with nine points, ahead of Honduras on goal difference with two qualifiers remaining. Panama had seven points and was in position to overtake the Americans later Tuesday when it hosted last-place Trinidad and Tobago.
The top three nations in the six-team group qualify for next year's tournament in Russia, and the fourth-place finisher meets Australia or Syria in a playoff for another berth. The U.S. hosts Panama on Oct. 6 at Orlando, Florida, and finishes four days later at Trinidad.
“We knew what type of spot we were in. We knew we needed at least one point,” Wood said. “We knew we started bad. We weren't mentally there. We let off an easy goal, but we knew we just needed one goal and that would change everything.”