USMNT plays Trinidad & Tobago to 0-0 draw in World Cup Qualifier

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Men’s National Team drew 0-0 with Trinidad & Tobago in the second game of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying at Hasely Crawford Stadium.

With the draw, the U.S. and Trinidad & Tobago sit tied atop CONCACAF Qualifying Group C with four points each. Earlier Tuesday, Guatemala gained their first points of Semifinal Round Qualifying with a 4-0 away win at St. Vincent and the Grenadines to move into third with three points, while St. Vincent is last with zero.

The USA controlled the match and produced a number of chances. Two of those opportunities were the collective efforts of the starting forward tandem, Jozy Altidore and Gyasi Zardes. In the 29th minute Altidore made an excellent flowing move down the right flank and lofted a ball across, which a breaking Zardes missed getting a touch to by only fractions. In the second half the duo was at it again, with Altidore making a move on the right and floating a ball to the back post which Zardes headed off the bar in the 47th minute.

In the 78th minute, Jermaine Jones nearly buried a rocket from 30 yards out, but T&T goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams matched Jones’ effort with a great save, stretching out to the top corner and reaching it with a fingertip to clip it over the bar.

The U.S. attack improved as the match went on, with head coach Jurgen Klinsmann bringing on midfielder Darlington Nagbe and forward Bobby Wood, but the team was unable to find a game-winner. The MNT will continue its World Cup Qualifying run in March with a home-and-away series with Guatemala on March 25 (away) and 29 (home). The locations for those matches are still to be determined.

Goal Scoring Opportunities:
TRI – Kenwyne Jones, 13th minute – Kenwyne Jones collected the ball with space, and after a nifty spin move, hit his effort just left of Tim Howard’s goal.

USA – Jozy Altidore, 21st minute – Tim Ream’s throw in from the left touch line bounced into the middle of the USA’s final third for Jozy Altidore, who hit a half volley just over Jan Michael Williams’ goal.

TRI – Kenwyne Jones, 45th minute: Kenwyne Jones’ hard, driven free kick from 25 yards out made its way through traffic, but found its way to Tim Howard who pounced on the ball with the final play of the first half.

USA – Gyasi Zardes 47th minute – DeAndre Yedlin found the ball at midfield before speeding towards the Trinidad & Tobago back line and slipping Jozy Alitidore through on the right. Altidore hit a quick cross to the back post for Gyasi Zardes who nodded his reaction header off the cross bar.

TRI – Joevin Jones, 64th minute: After some possession around the area, Trinidad & Tobago’s Andre Boucaud hit a swerving ball for Joevin Jones on the right. Jones gained some pace in the box before hitting a well-struck effort that Howard did well to hang on to.

USA – Jermaine Jones, 78th minute – After a strong buildup in possession, Michael Bradley laid a ball off for Jermaine Jones who saw his effort from 25 yards tipped off the cross bar by Jan Michael Williams.

Additional Notes:

• With his appearance tonight, Gyasi Zardes tied Claudio Reyna’s record for most caps in a player’s debut year for the National Team with 19.
• After making his MNT debut in the opening Qualifying match against St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Darlinton Nagbe entered the match as a second half sub for Tim Ream to earn his second career cap.
• Bobby Wood was the USA’s other substitution, coming on for Gyasi Zardes as both players earned their second consecutive World Cup Qualifying caps. Wood has now featured for the MNT eight times in 2015 and 14 times in his career.
• The U.S. MNT moved to 71-36-33 all-time and 21-29-29 in away World Cup Qualifying matches.
• The USA is 16-2-4 all-time against Trinidad & Tobago, holding an 11-1-3 edge in World Cup qualification matches.
• The MNT holds a 5-2-3 advantage in away matches against Trinidad & Tobago and 4-1-2 in World Cup Qualifiers in the Caribbean nation.
• All 10 U.S. matches against Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain have been decided by a goal or less.
• Since 1990 World Cup Qualifying, the MNT is 25-2-9 all-time against Caribbean nations and 12-3-7 when playing them outside of the U.S.

– U.S. Men’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Trinidad & Tobago
Date: Nov. 17, 2015
Competition: 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying – Semifinal Round
Venue: Hasely Crawford Stadium; Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: TBA
Weather: 81 degrees; Partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:   1   2   F
USA                          0   0   0
TRI                            0   0   0

Lineups:
USA: 12-Tim Howard, 16-Michael Orozco, 20-Geoff Cameron, 5-Matt Besler, 3-Tim Ream (6-Darlington Nagbe, 68), 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 13-Jermaine Jones, 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 23-Fabian Johnson, 9-Gyasi Zardes (18-Bobby Wood, 76), 17-Jozy Altidore
Subs Not Used: 1-Brad Guzan, 7-Miguel Ibarra, 8-Jordan Morris, 10-Mix Diskerud, 11-Brek Shea, 14-Matt Miazga, 15-Kyle Beckerman, 19-Ventura Alvarado, 21-Alan Gordon, 22-Bill Hamid
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

TRI: 21-Jan-Michael Williams, 4-Sheldon Bateau, 5-Daniel Cyrus, 17-Mekeli Williams (16-Justin Hoyte, 76), 6-Radanfah Abu Bakr, 19-Kevan George, 8-Khaleem Hyland, 3-Joevin Jones, 14-Andre Boucaud (20-Heron Cummings, 82), 13- Cordell Cato (11-Trevin Caesar, 85), 9-Kenwyne Jones (capt.)
Subs Not Used: 1-Marvin Phillip, 10-Willis Plaza, 15-Neveal Hackshaw, 23-Lester Peltier, 7-Johnathan Glenn, 2-David Aubrey, 12-Carlyle Mitchell, 18-Yohance Marshall
Head coach: Stephen Hart

Stats Summary: USA / TRI
Shots: 7 / 10
Shots on Goal: 2 / 4
Saves: 4 / 2
Corner Kicks: 7 / 2
Fouls: 12 / 12
Offside: 3 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
USA – DeAndre Yedlin (caution)            45+1st minute
USA – Jermaine Jones (caution)            49

Officials:
Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Hernandez (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Joel Rangel (MEX)
Fourth Official: Oscar Macias (MEX)