The United States
will be missing in Russia next year as they failed to qualify for the World Cup
for the first time since 1986. They crashed out on Tuesday after a shock
2-1 defeat against already-eliminated Trinidad and Tobago.
In a result that
will be viewed as a catastrophe for soccer in the United States, Trinidad took
all three points via an Omar Gonzalez own goal and a superb strike from Alvin Jones.
US star Christian Pulisic pulled a goal back in the second half, but the
increasingly desperate Americans were unable to find another to rescue their
hopes.
Their exit was
confirmed by results in Tuesday’s other CONCACAF qualifiers, where Panama booked
their place at the World Cup for the first time with a 2-1 win over Costa Rica
in Panama City. Honduras then snatched fourth place in the table with a 3-2 win
over Mexico, who had already qualified. The Hondurans will now face Australia
in a two-legged playoff next month for a place in the finals. But the shock of
the night was without a doubt the US failure at the final hurdle. Bruce Arena’s
side had needed only a draw at the Ato Boldon Stadium to be virtually certain
of securing at least a playoff spot.
After thrashing
Panama 4-0 last Friday, the Americans had arrived in the Caribbean confident of
securing the result needed to extend a proud record of qualifying for every
World Cup since 1990. Yet it started to go wrong for Arena’s men after 17
minutes when Gonzalez’s sliced clearance looped high and over the stranded Tim
Howard to put Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 up. It got worse just after the half-hour
mark when Alvin Jones produced a goal out of nothing to double the home side’s
lead.
Gathering the ball
on the right flank, roughly 35 yards from goal, Jones let fly with a ferocious
shot which flew past Howard to make it 2-0. Pulisic then gave the US hope with
a deflected shot soon after half-time to make it 2-1. As the changing scores in
the other games began to filter through to the American ranks, the US became
increasingly desperate. Despite the desperation, Trinidad and Tobago held firm
for a famous win that is likely to trigger a prolonged inquest in US soccer.
AFP
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