Gyasi Zardes and Jermaine Jones were both thwarted by the crossbar and the United States played to 0-0 draw with Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup qualifying match Tuesday in Port-of-Spain.
Zardes’ open header off of Jozy Altidore’s cross hit the crossbar just 75 seconds into the second half, as the Americans turned up the pressure after a lackluster first half. Jones’ long strike also hit crossbar in the 78th minute as T&T goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams leaped to stop it.
After the first two games of semifinals in the North and Central American and Caribbean region, the United States and Trinidad both have four points, Guatemala has three and St. Vincent and the Grenadines none.
Qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia breaks until late March, when the Americans play Guatemala twice in a five-day span. After the final matches next September, the top two teams advance to the six-national regional finals.
“All and all, a draw on the road is OK. It keeps us at the top of the group as we move toward Guatemala in March,” coach Jurgen Klinsmann said afterward.
Tim Howard took over as goalkeeper from Brad Guzan, for the 36-year-old’s first competitive game for the U.S. since making 15 saves in the 2-1 extra time defeat to Belgium in the round of 16 at last year’s tournament in Brazil.
The match was considered a test for the United States, going against T&T team that got a confidence-boosting 2-1 victory in Guatemala City to open group play.
“As expected, it was a tricky game. There were chances on both sides, I think we had the better of them,” Klinsmann said. “We should have put one away.”
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@ussoccer
