U.S. wins World Cup qualifier
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Christian Pulisic rescued the United States men’s soccer team with a pair of second-half goals as the Americans beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 Thursday night to move into third place at the halfway point in the final round of World Cup qualifying.
Pulisic, an 18-year-old phenom from Hershey, Pa., ended a frustrating start for the U.S. offense with a goal in the 52nd minute, then added another in the 62nd. He has seven goals and five assists in 15 international appearances, including four goals and three assists in his past four contests.
“It just took us a little while to get going,” Pulisic said.
After crashing to an 0-2 start in the hexagonal of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, the United States is back among the top three, which earn berths at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The fourth-place team advances to a playoff against Asia’s No. 5 nation.
Ahead of Thursday’s late matches — Costa Rica hosted Panama and Mexico was home against Honduras — Mexico led with 10 points, followed by Costa Rica, which had seven points and was ahead of the U.S. on goal difference. Panama (five points), Honduras (four) and Trinidad and Tobago (three) trailed.
The Americans have three wins and three draws since Bruce Arena replaced Jurgen Klinsmann as coach in November. The team’s biggest test in Arena’s second stint comes Sunday at Mexico.
“It’s going to be a tough one down there,” Pulisic said.
Friendly victory
GOTEBORG, Sweden — Rose Lavelle scored in the second half to lift the U.S. women’s soccer team to a 1-0 exhibition victory over Sweden on Thursday night.
A perfectly timed run from the midfield by Crystal Dunn led to a throughball for Lavelle inside the 18-yard box. The 22-yearold Lavelle calmly put it in the net in the 56th minute for her second international goal in her fifth international appearance.
“When I got the ball, I was debating should I play it across the face of the goal or should I shoot it,” Lavelle said. “I decided to be a little selfish. It was a good choice this time.”
Earlier, Dunn nearly had a breakaway, but her shot was saved by Hilda Carlen.
Alyssa Naeher got the shutout, thanks to lots of help from Allie Long.
Sweden had a dangerous chance in the 44th minute when Caroline Seger got free in the box. Her shot from the left side of the penalty area looked to be going wide before it was blocked by Long. The ball bounced over Naeher as the goalkeeper slid, but Long recovered to sweep the ball off the goal line.
“It feels good coming in, getting a game against a good opponent,” Naeher said. “I am happy with it.”
The United States is 21-6-11 against Sweden, including 3-0-0 in Sweden.
“To travel this far and get a result, sometimes those games you dominate and some you don’t,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said. “And sometimes you just have to find a way to win, and I think we did that tonight. A lot of great lessons.”
The women will play Norway on Sunday.