Pulisic double as US win; Mexico march on
los angeles — Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic scored twice as the United States grabbed a vital 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday.
Bundesliga-based Pulisic slid home a close-range finish from DeAndre Yedlin’s low cross in the 52nd minute to give the Americans the lead in their CONCACAF zone qualifying battle.
The teenage starlet then bagged his seventh goal in only his 15th international appearance to make it 2-0 after 62 minutes, latching on to Jozy Altidore’s perfect through ball before whipping a low finish in at the near post.
Pulisic’s goals settled a tense duel in the thin air of Commerce City’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, just outside Denver, Colorado.
The win lifted the USA into the automatic qualifying positions with seven points from five games and gives Bruce Arena’s side a boost as they prepare for a daunting away assignment against leaders Mexico on Sunday. Mexico stretched their lead at the top of the standings to five points on Thursday with a comfortable 3-0 win over Honduras in Mexico City.
“It’s going to be a tough one down there definitely but we really want revenge on them for when they got us earlier in the campaign,” Pulisic said, referring to Mexico’s 2-1 win over the USA in Columbus last November.
“We’re really confident going into that game and we’ll come out with a win there too.”
Pulisic’s double settled American nerves after a jittery opening 45 minutes which saw the hosts struggle to break down a disciplined Trinidad & Tobago, who remain bottom of the six-team standings after the defeat.
Clint Dempsey went close to increasing the lead but his curling shot shaved the crossbar . —