Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
USA win away from 2018 World Cup berth
ORLANDO — 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 the three desperately needed points with a 4-0 win over Panama during the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup qualifier at Orlando City Stadium Friday night.
With the victory, the U.S. leapt 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.
A physical match was expected and that could be seen from the very beginning when Panama’s Gabriel Torres knocked U.S. defender DeAndre Yedlin to the ground 50 seconds into the match.
Panama had three yellow cards in the first half and the U.S. had three goals, headlined by an eighth-minute strike from 19-year-old Christian Pulisic.
It was the young midfielder’s fifth goal of the year, assisted by Jozy Altidore. 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 also converted a penalty kick in the 43rd minute, chipping the ball over Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo after U.S. forward Bobby Wood drew a foul in the box.
The announced sellout crowd of 25,303 roared in approval as the U.S. entered halftime with a 3-0 lead.
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, centered in front of the net for an easy finish.
The crowd began calling for Dempsey to enter the match in the second half and got an answer in minute 71 when he subbed on for Altidore.
By the end of the game, the U.S. had 16 fouls compared to Panama’s 11. The U.S. also outshot Panama 15-9 and veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard made two critical saves, one in each half. Panama had 57.9 percent possession, but did not have enough quality in the final third to get on the scoreboard.
Despite entering the match with nine players under caution, the U.S. escaped with no yellow cards, leaving all players available for the qualifying finale in Trinidad & Tobago.