Big win puts U.S. in great position to get to Russia
Christian Pulisic burst up the field, scoring with a brilliant touch to complete an 11-second, breakneck, fieldlength attack just eight minutes into the match.
Then his cross found Jozy Altidore’s right foot like an arrow striking a bull’s-eye, leading to a two-goal lead in the 19th minute. Exhale, U.S. fans. Altidore converted a penalty kick with a chip in the 43rd after Bobby Wood was fouled, Wood added a goal in the 63rd and the United States routed Panama 4-0 on Friday night in Orlando to put the Americans back on track to reach next year’s World Cup.
“On a night where so much was on the line, maybe everything, we played in a way from the get-go that gave no doubt as to who was going to win the game,” U.S. captain Michael Bradley said.
Playing his first international match since he turned 19 last month, Pulisic was moved to central midfield from the flanks and sparked the attack from the opening whistle with pace and ball control seldom seen from an American.
“We needed a win, but the job’s not done,” Pulisic said.
The U.S. ended a threematch winless streak in qualifying and with 12 points moved two ahead of Panama into third place — the last automatic berth — in the North and Central American and Caribbean region. Honduras has nine points going into its match Saturday at Costa Rica, which is second with 15.
Goal difference means the Americans put themselves in great shape to reach an eighth straight World Cup, almost certainly with a win Tuesday in their finale at already eliminated Trinidad and Tobago and likely with a draw against the Soca Warriors if Honduras fails to win Saturday. The U.S. is plus-five to minus-two for Panama and minus-seven for Honduras.
“We’re well positioned to hopefully qualify for Russia. The game in Trinidad is not going to be an easy one,” said coach Bruce Arena, who led the U.S. at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, then returned after the U.S. opened the hexagonal last fall with two losses under Jurgen Klinsmann.
A defeat would have meant the U.S. could finish no better than fourth.
“Of course there was pressure,” defender Matt Besler said. “We all felt it and felt a big responsibility for the team and for our country.”
Hacked down several times by Panamanians, Pulisic was lifted in the 57th minute and walked off to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 25,303 at Orlando City Stadium. Mexico wins: El Tri, which clinched its World Cup spot last month, rallied to beat visiting Trinidad 3-1 on goals by Hirving Lozano, Javier Hernandez and Hector Herrera after Shahdon Winchester put the visitors ahead. Berth for Spain: Spain secured its 11th straight World Cup appearance, aided by Italy’s home draw against Macedonia, while Serbia lost at Austria to blow a chance to make it to next year’s finals. Spain beat Albania 3-0 in a match in which defender Gerard Pique, an outspoken defender of Catalonia who had been harassed by Spanish fans, got a mixed reaction from the home fans.