Pulisic, U.S. soccer pour it on
Teenager Christian Pulisic scored with a brilliant touch to complete a field-length attack just eight minutes in, then split the defense with a pass that set up Jozy Altidore for the first of the forward’s two goals and put the United States men’s national soccer team back on track for next year’s World Cup with a 4-0 rout of Panama last night in Orlando, Fla.
Pulisic fed Altidore for a 2-0 lead in the 19th. Altidore converted a penalty kick in the 43rd after Bobby Wood was fouled, and Wood added a goal in the 63rd.
The U.S. ended a threematch winless streak in qualifying and with 12 points moved two points 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 on Tuesday at Trinidad and Tobago and likely with a draw if Honduras fails to win today . ...
Spain easily defeated Albania, 3-0, at home to secure a World Cup berth with an insurmountable five-point lead over Italy with one round to go in Group G of European qualifying. Italy drew 1-1 at home with Macedonia.
L’ville sits coaches
Louisville placed associate men’s basketball coach Kenny Johnson and assistant Jordan Fair on paid administrative leave while the school handles its involvement in a federal investigation.
Neither Fair nor Johnson have participated in practices conducted this week by interim coach David Padgett, who was named Sept. 29 as Rick Pitino’s replacement. Pitino is on unpaid administrative leave and facing dismissal after 16 seasons in the wake of the probe . ...
Authorities in East Lansing, Mich., are investigating general threats made against sporting events at Michigan State via letters. The public and campus community were urged “to remain vigilant of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.” . . .
The NCAA plans to double the number of teams it seeds in the Division 1 baseball tournament to 16, hoping to provide a more equitable competitive balance. The change allows baseball to follow the same seeding principles used by other sports that have at least 64 entrants.
Duncan takes lead
Tyler Duncan chipped in for eagle on the par-5 18th hole to take the second-round lead in golf’s season-opening Safeway Open in Napa, Calif. Making his second career PGA Tour start, Duncan shot a 6-under 66 for a 1-stroke lead over defending champ Brendan Steele . . . .
Tommy Fleetwood broke the course record at Carnoustie by shooting 9-under 63 in St. Andrews, Scotland, to tie for the 1-shot lead with defending champion Tyrrell Hatton (65) after two rounds of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Hurd good as gold
American Morgan Hurd captured the gold medal in the women’s all-around at the gymnastics world championships in Montreal. Canada’s Elsabeth Black and Russia’s Elena Eremina took silver and bronze, respectively . . . .
Denny Hamlin won the pole in Concord, N.C., for the NASCAR Cup playoff race tomorrow at Charlotte Motor Speedway.