The US Under-17 national team continued their dominant form in the CONCACAF U-17 Championship with a 2-0 win Monday over Trinidad & Tobago behind goals from Joe Gallardo Jr. and Haji Wright at Estadio Francisco Morazan in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
With the win, the US sit firmly atop Group A in the World Cup qualifying tournament after two games following their 5-0 win over Cuba on Friday – a match highlighted by a Gallardo hat trick.
On Monday, the US nearly got on the board eight minutes in when a Wright header off a set piece had to be saved off the line by a Trinidad & Tobago defender.
But the Yanks would not be denied in the 31st minute, when Gallardo scored directly on a free kick driven low past goalkeeper Levi Fernandez.
Wright doubled the lead in the 70th minute on an open-play goal.
US goalkeeper William Pulisic was called into action for the only time in the 87th minute and maintained the shutout in fantastic fashion, first turning away Jeankeon Alexander with a diving save and then controlling the rebound shot by Noah Powder.
The Yanks are back in action Thursday against Guatemala, who beat Trinidad & Tobago on Friday and lost to Jamaica earlier on Monday.
Lineups:
USA: 1-Will Pulisic; 2-Matthew Olosunde, 14-Tanner Dieterich, 5-Hugo Arellano (capt.), 3-John Nelson; 16-Thomas McCabe, 8-Luca de la Torre (13-McKinze Gaines, 64), 10-Christian Pulisic (18-Tyler Adams, 83); 7-Haji Wright, 9-Joe Gallardo (19-Brandon Vazquez, 90+1), 20-Alejandro Zendejas
T&T: 1-Levi Fernandez; 3-Keston Julien, 4-Tekay Hoyce, 6-Kareem Riley, 7-Shakeem Patrick; 8-Joshua Burnett (17-Jeankeon Alexander, 84), 10-Morgan Bruce, 11-Jarren Nixon (9-Chaz Burnett, 60), 12-Kierron Mason; 14-Isaiah Hudson (13-Kishon Hacksaw, 82), 19-Noah Powder (capt.)
