U.S. fights for crucial points
Americans move closer to World Cup bid
Doubt surrounded the United States men’s national team entering Friday night.
Players and coach insisted they knew the gravity of the situation.
And they proved it, taking three desperately needed points with a 4-0 U.S. win over Panama during a World Cup qualifier at Orlando City Stadium on Friday night.
Jozy Altidore’s brace and goals from Christian Pulisic and Bobby Wood helped the U.S. leap over Panama into third place in The Hex standings. A road win against last-place Trinidad & Tobago in the final qualifier Tuesday will guarantee the U.S. a bid to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“Certainly a good win for our team,” U.S. coach Bruce Arena said. “We’ve had a great year despite what some of you people think and, ya know, we’ve come a long way.
“Now we have to finish it off Tuesday in Trinidad. They look like they’re fully focused on playing and it’s not going to be easy.”
The U.S. wanted to press early and get as many players forward as possible to score on a defensive Panama side that allowed only five goals in eight qualifying matches leading into Friday’s match.
It took eight minutes for 19-year-old Christian Pulisic to bring the announced sellout crowd of 25,303 to its feet with the first goal of the night. Pulisic received the ball from Altidore, broke free and skirted around charging Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo before shooting at an angle from the right side of the net.
“We needed a result, and we came out flying right from the beginning,” Pulisic said. “We needed a lot of movement against a physical Panama team that was gonna sit in and not make it easy for us.
“Jozy just laid it off to me and then I was just gone, I guess, that was it. That’s one of Jozy’s best qualities. He scores goals, but he’s a great passer and he knows where I am. He knows where everyone is.”
It was the young midfielder’s fifth goal of the year. Pulisic later dumped the ball to Altidore in the 19th minute for his fourth assist of the year, tying Clint Dempsey for the team lead in both categories during this round of World Cup qualifying.
Altidore tied Dempsey as the national team’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifying matches with 18 goals when he converted a penalty kick in the 43rd minute. Forward Bobby Wood drew the penalty that helped the U.S. enter halftime with a 3-0 lead.
U.S. Soccer held its final home match at Orlando City Stadium in the hopes it would provide a friendly atmosphere and it did. Chants of “U-S-A” drowned out a sizable Panamanian contingent in attendance and the supporters section of the stadium remained standing the entire match despite being converted into a seated area for the night.
“I think the USA will be returning to Orlando,” veteran soccer broadcaster Ian Darke said while describing the rowdy crowd during the broadcast Friday night on ESPN2.
Pulisic continued to run through and around defenders, easily breaking free and finding space to operate until he subbed off in the 57th minute to a standing ovation. Winter Park native Dax McCarty replaced him, garnering cheers of his own as he made his World Cup qualifying debut.
Wood started alongside Altidore in the 3-5-2 formation and scored his 10th international goal in the 63rd minute to give the U.S. an insurmountable 4-0 lead. Paul Arriola tapped the ball to Wood, who was centered in front of the net for an easy finish.
The U.S. outshot Panama 15-9 and veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard made two critical saves, one in each half.
“On the night, we actually didn’t finish well,” Arena said. “We could’ve scored a lot more goals. Second half, we could have been a little bit better on possession . ... Other than that, it was a good night.”