Tim Howard made his professional debut exactly a month before Christian Pulisic was born. On Thursday night in Commerce City, though, both showed that age is a mere number, as a Pulisic brace toppled Trinidad and Tobago Dick's Sporting Goods Park in a World Cup qualifier.
Howard, at 38, is still to concede a goal in a World Cup qualifier to T&T, and he remains Bruce Arena's number one choice. The Colorado Rapids goalkeeper has kept six shutouts against T&T, though he was not without his scares. Nathan Lewis put the ball in the net just moments after Pulisic opened the scoring, but he was ruled offside. Kenwyne Jones put a header against the crossbar in the first half, with Howard stranded.
Pulisic is just 18, and yet he again played beyond his years as the USA maintained their unbeaten start to Arena's second spell in charge.
Howard’s club-mate,
Mekeil Williams
, played at center back for the visitors, and it was the heart of the T&T defense which was finally breached seven minutes after the interval. Some neat movement involving Darlington Nagbe, allowed DeAndre Yedlin to slide the ball into the gap, where Pulisic pounced from close range.
Ten minutes later, fed by Jozy Altidore, Pulisic doubled the lead as he beat Jan-Michael Williams at his near post. Substitute Bobby Wood pinged one off the post inside the final 10 minutes, but the pair from Pulisic were good enough for all three points.
Pulisic did in the second half what many tried and failed to do in the first period. After a leisurely opening 15 minutes, during which the USA became bogged down in a cluttered midfield, Clint Dempsey lit the fuse for a flurry of activity with a curling shot which shaved the top of the bar.
Brooks and Altidore forced desperate blocks from Jan-Michael Williams in the space of a minute. Pulisic fired over from the angle, though the T&T keeper appeared to get a touch. Altidore watched his header pushed over by Jan-Michael Williams, seconds after the visiting keeper spilled a Geoff Cameron drive from distance.
T&T also had their chances in a frantic first half. Kenwyne Jones beat Howard to a Khaleem Hyland angled chip, but put his header against the crossbar. Hyland had earlier fizzed a shot wide of the right-hand post, with Howard struggling to cover ground.
Victory takes the USA to seven points from five games, with Mexico awaiting on Sunday. World Cup qualification just got a little tougher for T&T, who remain bottom of the Hex on three points. Williams and T&T head to Costa Rica. Both Howard and Williams should return in time for the Rapids’ next MLS game, which is home to Portland Timbers on June 17 (TICKETS).
BOX SCORE
USA 2-0 Trinidad and Tobago
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, CO
Thursday, June 8, 2017
SCORING SUMMARY
USA: Christian Pulisic (DeAndre Yedlin) 52’
USA: Christian Pulisic (Jozy Altidore) 62’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
T&T: Leston Paul (caution) 76’
USA: Alejandro Bedoya (caution) 85’
USA: Tim Howard; DeAndre Yedlin, Geoff Cameron, John Brooks, Jorge Villafaña; Michael Bradley (capt.); Darlington Nagbe, Christian Pulisic, Fabian Johnson (Alejandro Bedoya 74’); Clint Dempsey (Kellyn Acosta 61’), Jozy Altidore (Bobby Wood 83’).
Subs not used: Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando, Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream, DaMarcus Beasley, Dax McCarty, Jordan Morris, Graham Zusi.
Trinidad and Tobago: Jan-Michael Williams; Carlos Edwards, Sheldon Bateau, Daneil Cyrus, Mekeil Williams; Joevin Jones (Shahdon Winchester 68’), Khaleem Hyland (Leston Paul 76’), Kevin Molino, Kevan George; Kenwyne Jones (Jamille Boatswain 82’), Nathan Lewis.
Subs not used: Marvin Phillip, Adrian Foncette, Aubrey David, Radanfah Abubakr, Hughtun Hector, Andre Boucaud, Curtis Gonzales, Alvin Jones, Hashim Arcia.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Oscar Moncada
Assistant 1: Christian Ramirez
Assistant 2: Melvyn Cruz
Fourth Official: Raul Castro
ATTENDANCE: 19,188
TEAM RECORDS
USA: 2-2-1 (7 points)
Trinidad and Tobago: 1-4-0 (3 points)
