U.S. manages tie
Bobby Wood (above, 9) is congratulated by teammates after his goal in the second half of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifying match against Honduras in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The Americans escaped with a 1-1 tie and are now in fourth in the North and Central American and Caribbean region with nine points, ahead of Honduras on goal difference with two qualifiers remaining.
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — Bobby Wood scored off a scramble in the 85th minute, and the United States escaped from Honduras with a 1-1 tie and important point Tuesday after nearly falling into a deep hole in World Cup qualifying.
“I was thinking we might have an early vacation at the end of this year,” Coach Bruce Arena said afterward.
Romell Quioto scored in the 27th minute after defender Omar Gonzalez failed to clear the ball with a slide tackle. Quioto was left with an open 11-yard shot that beat goalkeeper Brad Guzan to the far post, causing exuberant fans to stomp and shake Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.
Christian Pulisic was fouled about 30 yards from the goal and Kellyn Acosta took the free kick. Goalkeeper Luis Lopez batted the ball with his left hand, and Matt Besler hooked it to Jordan Morris. He sent a backward header to Wood, a 73rd-minute substitute. Wood chested the ball to score his ninth international goal.
The U.S. dropped to fourth in the North and Central American and Caribbean region with nine points, but more importantly remained ahead of Honduras on goal difference with two qualifiers left. Panama moved into third place when it beat last-place Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 and eliminated the Soca Warriors.
The top three nations in the six-team group qualify for next year’s tournament in Russia, and the fourth-place country meets Australia or Syria in a playoff for another berth. The U.S. hosts Panama on Oct. 6 in Orlando, Fla., and finishes four days later at Trinidad, so Arena’s team has control of its fate.
Still, the Americans may need victories in both games. They will head into their finale uncertain of qualifying for the first time since 1989, when Paul Caligiuri’s goal gave them a 1-0 victory at Trinidad and their first World Cup berth since 1950.