Altidore scores twice, U.S. advances with 4-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago
Jozy Altidore scored twice in a three-minute span of the second half, Sacha Kljestan and Paul Arriola had goals and the United States beat Trinidad and Tobago 4-0 on Tuesday night to reach the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
The Americans (4-1-1) finished atop Group C of the semifinal round in the North and Central American and Caribbean region and will open the hexagonal on Nov. 11 against Mexico — presumably in Columbus, Ohio, where the U.S. has won four straight qualifiers over El Tri by 2-0 scores.
Christian Pulisic made his first U.S. start after seven appearances as a substitute, and at 17 years, 353 days became the youngest American to start a qualifier. Landon Donovan had set the mark of 18 years, 184 days against Honduras in 2001.
Pulisic showed pace and an ability to take on defenders down the left flank, assisting on Altidore’s second goal. The U.S. extended its home unbeaten streak in qualifying to 32 games since 2001 (30-0-2).
Trinidad (3-2-1), which already had clinched a final-round berth, finished two points back, one ahead of Guatemala (3-2-1), which was eliminated despite a 9-3 rout of St. Vincent that included five goals by Carlos Ruiz.
Kljestan put the U.S. ahead in the 44th minute, and Altidore doubled the lead off Fabian Johnson’s cross in the 59th. Altidore got his 37th international goal three minutes later, and with the chance for a hat trick chipped over the crossbar after Pulisic helped him break in as injury time started.
Altidore, who missed most of the 2014 World Cup and all of this year’s Copa America because of hamstring injuries, became the U.S. leader with 16 qualifying goals, two more than Clint Dempsey.
Kljestan scored with a toe shot from 10 yards out. After a throw in, Johnson played the ball to Kljestan, who flicked it back to the left back. He passed to Pulisic, whose cross was knocked out by Khaleem Hyland to teammate Radanfah Abu Bakr. His clearance hit Kljestan’s midsection and fell, and Kljestand scored for the second straight game since his return to the national team, his sixth goal in 48 international appearances.
Johnson set up the second goal with a cross to Altidore, who juked MeKeil Williams, turned and scored from 13 yards.
His second goal was even niftier. Pulisic used a give-and-go with Kljestan to get open and then crossed to Altidore for a tap-in near the far post.
Arriola was making his second appearance. He scored in an exhibition win at Puerto Rico on May 22.
With right back DeAndre Yedlin suspended for yellow-card accumulation and central defender Matt Besler returning home following the birth of his daughter, coach Jurgen Klinsmann made six changes from Friday’s 6-0 win at St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Tim Howard started in goal, making his 32nd World Cup qualifying appearance and moving past Kasey Keller for the most among American goalkeepers. Steve Birnbaum and Omar Gonzalez were paired in central defense for the first time, and Johnson dropped back from midfield. Captain Michael Bradley, who was suspended for Friday’s game, returned to the lineup.
