U.S. on cusp of Qatar berth
Hosts could clinch spot in World Cup by beating Panama
With two games left in World Cup qualifying, the United States heads into a showdown against Panama in Orlando knowing that winning the last home match will be key before going on the road for the finale.
Sound familiar?
The U.S. romped over the Panamanians 4-0 in October 2017 as Christian Pulisic scored the first goal and set up the second. Needing only a draw four days later, the Americans flopped to a 2-1 defeat at Trinidad and Tobago, a nadir in American soccer that ended a streak of seven straight World Cup appearances.
“Every game comes with pressure, different pressure, and, of course, we feel it,” goalkeeper Zack Steffen said Saturday. “We’re aware of
the emotions, of our emotions going into it, and it’s just about kind of putting those on the backburner and going out there and playing the game that we’ve been playing for our whole lives.”
Canada leads North and Central America and the Caribbean with 25 points and the U.S. is second with 22, ahead of Mexico on goal difference. Costa Rica is fourth with 19, and Panama fifth with 18. The top three nations qualify for this year’s World Cup in Qatar, and fourth place advances to a playoff against the Oceania champion, likely New Zealand.
The U.S. would clinch Sunday with a victory and Costa Rica failing to win at El Salvador, or with a draw if the Ticos lose. A U.S. draw would guarantee no worse than the playoff spot.
With a plus-nine goal difference to Costa Rica’s plus-two, a win would put the U.S. in position to head to Costa Rica at most needing to avoid a lopsided defeat.
MLS
Charlotte 2, Cincinnati 0:
Karol Swiderski’s two goals and Kristijan Kahlina’s six saves lifted Charlotte FC to a win over Cincinnati.
Kansas City 1, Salt Lake 0:
Johnny Russell scored the decisive goal as Sporting Kansas City earned a win over Real Salt Lake. Russell’s game-winner came in the 81st minute to secure the win for Sporting KC (2-3-0).