Jozy Altidore Scores Twice As USMNT Beat Trinidad And Tobago 4-0 In 2018 World Cup Qualifier

Jozy Altidore looked impressive Tuesday night, scoring two goals to lead the U.S. Men’s National Team to a 4-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in a 2018 Russia World Cup qualifying match in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jozy Altidore Scores Twice As USMNT Beat Trinidad And Tobago 4-0

The U.S. have now won Group C in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and advance to the final round of qualifying after securing their spot in the Hexagonal. Coach Jürgen Klinsmann played with his starting lineup a little bit following the USMNT’s 6-0 win against St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday.

Altidore, a Toronto FC forward who fills the void left by Clint Dempsey’s absence, displayed superior strength, speed and skill. After New York Red Bulls star Sacha Kljestan opened scoring in the 44th minute by tapping in the ball from 10 yards following a goalmouth scramble, Altidore took a pass from Fabian Johnson, created space in the box, and fired a right-footed shot pas Trinidad goalie Marvin Phillip to double the Americans’ lead in the 59th minute.

Four minutes later, the Toronto FC star delivered again. Kljestan passed to Christian Pulisic on a give-and-go and the latter player found Altidore on the far post with a well-placed cross that Altidore merely had to poke in for a 3-0 lead.

Pulisic, a midfielder who plays for German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, is the youngest member of the USMNT squad: he will turn 18 later this month. Though he didn’t score, Pulisic impressed in Tuesday’s match, proving to be a catalyst in the Americans’ victory.

The only sour note on the night for Pulisic came when he raced onto an Altidore pass and slammed his shot off both posts.

“I don’t think I”ve ever seen anything like that,” Pulisic said of his closest chance at a goal. “After that I didn’t think I was going to score because there’s no way after something like that. Disappointing.”

Paul Arriola scored the fourth and final goal in the 71st minute. Pulisic intercepted the ball at midfield and launched a counter-attack. The youngster drove at the defense before sending the ball to Jordan Morris on his right, and then proceeded to dash into the box to receive a pass from Altidore. Pulisic shot, but his attempt bounced off the goalkeeper. Arriola tapped in the rebound to make it 4-0.

Arriola’s goal was his second in as many caps. The game also marked the international debut of Caleb Stanko, a 23-year-old midfielder from Michigan who plays for Swiss Super League club FC Vaduz on loan from Bundesliga club SC Freiburg. Stanko came on late in the second half.

Veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard said the USMNT is in a good place right now.

The U.S.’s final round of World Cup qualification will be a rivalry match-up against Mexico on November 11 in Columbus, Ohio. The U.S. has defeated Mexico in World Cup qualifying 2-0 in each of the last four qualifying cycles.

JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 06: Jozy Altidore #17 of the United States drives toward the goal during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago at EverBank Field on September 6, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena