< Bobby Wood scores

for the U.S. men’s soccer team in a 1-1 tie with Honduras in World Cup Qualifying.

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. The previously well-behaved fans threw horns and liquids at the Americans as they exited the field.

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 and scored his ninth international goal, avoiding a huge U.S. embarrassment and deflating fans who had been celebrating since the start.

"It was tough. Lots of credit to them, they made it tough. The conditions were obviously difficult," Morris said. "I think it shows the mentality of our team, we knew that we had to get a result down here. Credit to Bobby, he came in and scored a nice goal. As a team we worked really hard the whole game. Obviously we would have loved three points but a point is big for us down here."

The U.S. remained third in the North and Central American and Caribbean region with nine points, ahead of Honduras on goal difference with two qualifiers remaining. Panama had seven points and was in position to overtake the Americans later Tuesday when it hosted last-place Trinidad and Tobago.

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 at Orlando, Florida, and finishes four days later at Trinidad, so Arena's team has control of its own fate.

"I'm proud of the way our team battled. Those were really difficult conditions. That was a huge point," Arena said. "With two games remaining in qualifying, we have everything to play for."

Still, the Americans may need wins in both games. They will head into their finale uncertain of qualifying for the first time since 1989.