Football
2018 World Cup Qualifying - CONCACAF, CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying - Fourth Round
USA 
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 TRI
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ESPN staff 8y

Jozy Altidore brace as United States beats Trinidad and Tobago

The United States beat Trinidad and Tobago 4-0 to win Group C in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and secure its position in the the Hexagonal with a spot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia on the line.

Jozy Altidore scored a brace and first-time starter Christian Pulisic was the catalyst for much of the team's success in an impressive home victory for the Americans.

Klinsmann tinkered with his lineup following last Friday's 6-0 win against St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with Pulisic, Sacha Kljestan and Omar Gonzalez all in the starting XI. As planned, Tim Howard started ahead of Brad Guzan, who played versus St. Vincent, in goal.

Pulisic, who turns 18 later this month, became the youngest player to start for the U.S. in a World Cup qualifier.

Kljestan started a nice move in the 44th minute and ultimately found himself in perfect position to finish it following a goalmouth scramble for the New York Red Bulls player to toe poke home from 10 yards.

Trinidad and Tobago were on the front foot early, and Joevin Jones tested Howard in the seventh minute with a left-footed shot from distance that the Colorado Rapids goalkeeper easily handled.

Kljestan had the best early chance for the Americans when a loose ball from a long Geoff Cameron throw in landed at his feet, but the volleyed effort skied well over the crossbar.

The next chance for the U.S. came from a set piece following a foul against Cameron just outside the penalty area, but Michael Bradley's cross was out of reach for Fabian Johnson.

With the Americans pushing forward, Pulisic almost opened his team's account from a Altidore cross, but his left-footed shot from close range hit both posts before bouncing away from danger.

Pulisic's driving run gave the U.S. their best chance early in the second half, as he found Alejandro Bedoya who then passed to Altidore in the center of the penalty area, but the Americans' No. 17 saw his shot parried away by Marvin Phillip.

Kenwyne Jones got free in the U.S. area after some nice build-up play from T&T, but his effort from close range went well over an onrushing Howard's crossbar.

The game began to stretch out as the second half progressed and both teams saw counter-attacking chances go begging.

Altidore was on the money in the 59th minute to double the lead for the hosts, taking a Fabian Johnson pass, turning and powering a right-footed shot past Phillip to become the all-time World Cup qualifying goalscorer for the Americans.

Minutes later it was Altidore again. Kljestan passed to Pulisic on a give-and-go and the youngster found his teammate on the far post with a well-placed cross that Altidore merely had to tap home for a 3-0 lead.

With the end result all-but a formality, the U.S. added another when substitute Paul Arriola found himself wide open following a rebound from a Pulisic slot to slot home.

The United States begins play in the Hexagonal on Nov. 11 when they host CONCACAF rivals Mexico.

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