Thanks as always for following along with us. Here’s Tom Dart’s full match report from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Updated
The US move into third in the hex and an automatic qualifying spot with tonight’s win. Both teams ahead of them, however, have a game in hand. A long way to go between here and Russia.
1 Mexico 3-0-1, 10pts, +4
2 Costa Rica 2-1-1, 7pts, +4
3 USA 2-2-1 7pts +3
4 Panama 1-1-2, 5pts, +0
5 Honduras 1-2-1, 4pts, -5
6 Trinidad and Tobago, 1-4-0, 3pts, -4
Full time: USA 2-0 Trinidad & Tobago
And there it is! A Christian Pulisic brace makes the difference for the Americans as they haul in the much-needed three points heading into Sunday night’s summit meeting with Mexico.
Not just the future. The present as well.@cpulisic_10 now has seven goals and two braces in 15 #USMNT caps. pic.twitter.com/H0nLSB2Y8Q
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 9, 2017
90 min: The fourth official signals for three minutes of stoppage time.
88 min: T&T with a whole lot of men behind the ball now. Everyone more or less just playing out the string.
84 min: Bobby Wood is hardly on for a minute before he cracks a shot from 18 yards off the left post!
⚽ | #USAvTRI: ¡Increíble! El palo le niega el 3er gol al #USMMT. @ussoccer 2-0 T&T https://t.co/d2xSEAhVPt pic.twitter.com/5FMWobb0xm
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) June 9, 2017
Updated
83 min: Both teams make their finals subs as Jamille Boatswain enters for Kenwyne Jones, while Wood comes on for Altidore.
80 min: The US is going to make their third and final switch and it looks like it’ll be Bobby Wood, a third attacking sub.
77 min: Acosta takes the free kick and puts it on target, forcing another save from Williams! Wow! That would have certainly made it 3-0 if not for a full-extension save by the Trinidadian keeper.
76 min: A second sub for T&T as Paul enters for Hyland. And he almost immediately picks up a yellow, the game’s first, for a foul on Pulisic.
Updated
74 min: T&T’s Hyland sprays the corner off target and now Nagbe is on the run as the US look to counter, but Nagbe’s pass is ... oh dear, it’s well off. Badly given away.
73 min: T&T win another corner but it’s cleared for another corner. Now Arena will make the sub as Bedoya comes in for Johnson.
70 min: Twenty minutes remaining and the US are in cruise control after some scary moments not all that long ago. Another sub coming up for Bruce Arena’s side, looking like Bedoya for Johnson?
68 min: T&T make their first sub as Shahdon Winchester comes on for Johvan Jones.
67 min: Jones beats his man and fires a shot on goal that’s deflected and nearly beats Howard! It skids out and the offside flag was up anyhow, but another scary moment for the US team.
66 min: Trinidad & Tobago win their first corner of the match. It’s not immediately cleared by the United States and they’re able to win another one.
65 min: Another rough-and-tumble foul by Cameron and he manages to evade a booking once more. Might be worth taking him off for another center back considering a yellow will result in a suspension for the Mexico game. But what do I know?
GOAL! USA 2-0 Trinidad & Tobago (Pulisic, 62 min)
Pulisic gets behind the defense and beats Williams at the near post! Two goals 10 minutes apart. What can’t this 18-year-old do? Four goals in his last four games for country.
61 min: First sub for the United States as Kellyn Acosta comes on for Dempsey. The record will stand at least three more days.
59 min: Williams is OK and we’re up and running once more.
57 min: Williams is taken off his line as the US sends a wave of players forward and T&T’s back four fritters away. The 32-year-old keeper sacrifices his body to make sure the ball is turned away from the goal, but he’s down now and being attended to by medical staff.
56 min: Nearly a second for Pulisic, who makes a diagonal run into the area but puts his shot off the outside of the post.
54 min: And immediately off the kickoff, T&T’s Nathan Lewis rushes down the pitch and puts a ball into the back of the net. Immediately ruled offside but, wow, a scary moment from the American fans here based on the hush that fell on the supporters’ section.
GOAL! USA 1-0 Trinidad & Tobago (Pulisic, 52 min)
Bradley forces turnover and finds Yedlin, who finds Nagbe. Great patience from the winger, who lays it off to Yedlin, who finds the kid Christian Pulisic darting into the box ... where he easily pounds it into the back of the net from close range. Relief for the Americans!
49 min: Another slow, feeling-out start for both sides.
46 min: And we’re under way in the second half. No changes at the break for either side. Can the US grind out three points or will their qualification hopes be dealt a severe blow?
I'd like to take a minute to discuss the covert Russian efforts to meddle into #USMNT's quest to qualify for the World Cup.
— Jonah Freedman (@jonahfreedman) June 9, 2017
“It’s got to be quicker,” USA coach Bruce Arena says in his brief half-time interview before heading to the locker room. Yes, they’ve logged 10 shots in the first 45 minutes, including six on target. But they’ve been slow in moving from defense into attack. A difficult day so far, even if it felt like a breakthrough was imminent for most of the first half.
Half-time: USA 0-0 Trinidad & Tobago
The United States have forced Trinidad & Tobago keeper Jan-Michael Williams to make six often-acrobatic saves, but they’ll head to the locker room with nothing to separate them. Are we nervous yet?
45 min: Fabian Johnson hacked down badly but the referee plays the advantage. Oh dear. That would have been a golden free-kick opportunity from 20 yards for the US but instead the ref plays the advantage (on what was really simple possession) and Pulisic is furious! It winds out going out for a goal kick and the referee doesn’t even give a yellow after play stops. Yikes.
42 min: More from our Graham Parker, who’s in Commerce City:
Sharp intakes of breath all round with Hoyland’s shot a few minutes ago, and now crowd sounding truly nervy for the first time, after Jones should have scored. Couple of chances for USA straight after to rouse them, but it’s distinctly nervy here as we approach half time.
The hype man has his work cut out.
39 min: The US win their third corner. It’s headed away by T&T, who can’t immediately clear it from their final third but ultimately do.
35 min: A great strike by Villafaña is saved by Williams, who is pulled way off his line trying to catch the rebound. It’s then recovered by Dempsey and sent back into Altidore, whose header is saved by Williams again! The T&T keeper is being pushed to the limit here: he’s just made his third and fourth saves.
⚽ | #USAvTRI ¡Casi! Altidore nuevamente muy cerca de anotar de cabeza para #USMMT en el 35' @ussoccer 0-0 T&T https://t.co/d2xSEAhVPt pic.twitter.com/aHWOgDEJGh
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) June 9, 2017
33 min: The ball is played into the area to Kenwyne Jones, who beats John Brooks and skies high over Tim Howard and very nearly heads it into the back of the net! Alas, it caroms off the crossbar, but wow! Jones came thisclose to putting Trinidad & Tobago in the lead.
31 min: A clattering challenge by Geoff Cameron on Kenwyne Jones and Jones is slow to get to his feet. Cameron looks as if he’ll escape caution and he’s lucky for that: a yellow card would sideline him for the Mexico game on Sunday.
30 min: A half hour down and the USA is looking a whole lot better now than at the quarter-hour mark. Scoreless still, but he visitors look as if they’re starting to tire amid the altitude and it might not be long before the Americans break through for an opener.
28 min: A quick-fire attack by the visitors up the middle of the pitch and Hyland lets one fly from about 30 yards. Howard needs to fully extend to make the save!
25 min: John Brooks fires a shot on goal, forcing a save by Williams. Still scoreless, but the pressure is building. Oh, and moments later another shot, this one from Altidore, forcing another good save by Williams! Two quick saves in succession and T&T are feeling the heat now.
23 min: Another free-kick opportunity for the US. This one rolled in by Bradley to Nagbe, trying to catch T&T not paying attention, and it backfires by rolling past the touchline for a goal kick.
20 min: The USA with a series of give-and-gos in the final third as they try to crack the T&T back four but haven’t quite found the right combination yet. Still, a bit more inspired over the last five minutes as the visitors are finding it harder to get out of their own half.
17 min: Yedlin crosses into Altidore but he can’t put a shot on target. US starting to find a rhythm in attack, but still oddly passive at home in a qualifier they need to have with Azteca looming.
15 min: Michael Bradley’s pass down the left flank is turned in to Dempsey, who lets one crack from the top of the area ... and it sails inches over the crossbar.
— Ben Jata (@Ben_Jata) June 9, 2017
Updated
13 min: Both sides timid in the early going. A quick thought from reader Brian Doll, who checks in via email:
Thought we got a coach with tactical sense. No way can think Bradley’s-slow self can run midfield solo. (He) needs a partner and Nagbe not a winger
10 min: Both teams a bit tentative early. US sitting back deeper than expected. An attack by T&T up the left flank ends with a speculative shot from range that forces Howard to make a save, but the Americans counter quickly and respond with their first shot on goal.
7 min: The United States win a free kick from a dangerous position. Pulisic hooks it in to the far post but it’s cleared; T&T move quickly into a counter-attack but the hosts get numbers back to slow things down.
4 min: USA win their first corner but it’s corralled by the keeper.
2 min: Pulisic ripped down at the halfway line by Kevin Molino played while the American teenagers tires to key an attack. Probably should have been shown a yellow card there, but he gets away with it.
The only way to stop this kid.. #USAvTRI pic.twitter.com/HZpi4ovoBP
— Ben Jata (@Ben_Jata) June 9, 2017
Updated
1 min: And they’re off! USA attacking right to left in all-red strips, Trinidad & Tobago going from left to right in white shirts and black shorts. Both teams content to sit back in the immediate opening.
The players are on the pitch and we should be under way any moment now. Important to note the five US players who are sitting on yellow cards tonight: Altidore, Besler, Bradley, Brooks, Cameron. Should any pick up a booking tonight, they’ll miss Sunday’s crucial match at Azteca Stadium.
And we're off! 🇺🇸
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 9, 2017
Juuuuuuuust a bit warmer than our last visit to @DSGpark. Watch #USAvTRI live on @FS1, @UniMas or @UnivisionSports! pic.twitter.com/WuvlaJDXKs
Updated
Here’s a dispatch from Guardian friend/contributor/overall bon vivant Graham Parker, who’s on the ground in Commerce City.
Build up on full flow here in Denver - technically it’s Commerce City but the world’s loudest/most irritating hype man is asking “Denver” to make some noise, so who am I to disagree. Nobody would hear anyway.
It’s a cool, breezy night after a warm day in the city. Nice night for soccer.
US could probably do with an early goal - they should win this game, but any sign they’re already looking ahead to Sunday and Mexico could come back to bite them if Trinidad get to settle. And at this altitude, the
US won’t want to be running around more than they have to.
More as I get it. Right now I have to Put. Those. Hands. Up.
The teams!
Hello and welcome to tonight’s World Cup qualifier between the United States and Trinidad & Tobago at Colorado’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Not much time between now and kickoff so let’s get right into it with tonight’s teams:
USA
XI: Howard; Villafaña, Brooks, Cameron, Yedlin; Johnson, Bradley, Pulisic, Nagbe; Altidore, Dempsey
Subs: Guzan, Rimando, Gonzalez, Ream, Beasley, Wood, Bedoya, McCarty, Arriola, Acosta, Morris, Zusi
Head coach: Bruce Arena
Trinidad & Tobago
XI: J. Williams; Bateau, Cyrus, Edwards, M. Williams; Hyland, J. Jones, Molino, George; K. Jones, Lewis
Subs: Phillip, Foncette, David, Abu Bakr, Winchester, Hector, Boucaud, Gonzales, A. Jones, Arcia, Boatswain, Paul
Head coach: Dennis Lawrence
Tonight’s match officials, all from Honduras: Oscar Moncada is the referee, assisted by Christian Ramirez and Melvyn Cruz, while Raul Castro is the fourth official.
Bryan will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s how the US got on in their last game, against Venezuela on Saturday:
