USA moves to top of group

September 10, 2009

With a hard fought win against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain on Sept 9th, 2009, USA moved to the top of the six team CONCACAF qualification group for the soccer World Cup finals in South Africa.On a day when close matches were the order of the day in the group, team USA held its nerve to overcome the home team.

After a scrappy first half with a few half chances for either team and a decent save by Tim Howard, there was a solitary goal in the 62nd minute of the game, when Ricardo Clark struck with a powerful, swerving kick from 25 yards out bringing relief to the USA bench. Once again Landon Donovan had a part in setting up the goal, as his lay-up put Clark in a position to take his decisive shot on goal.

The US team enjoyed its first away win after a long interval- the last win away from home was in Cuba in September 2008.Trinidad and Tobago are now out of the running for a finals place.Elsewhere in the group, home wins for Mexico over Honduras (1-0) and for El Salvador against Costa Rica (1-0) meant that the group standings were shaken up again in the space of a week. The Mexicans, enjoying their best run so far, moved to second place and the Costa Ricans who had began the month at top of the group have slipped to fourth.

The road to South Africa for the USA is clear. A straight win in either of its matches against Honduras away from home or in its last match against Costa Rica at home will ensure direct qualification. Both opponents can be dangerous on their day, so it is not easy. If Bob Bradley’s men demonstrate the resolve that they have shown in the last two matches, this should not be a big challenge.

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