Action from the World Cup qualifier host Trinidad & Tobago and the USA (white jersey) on November 17, 2015, in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. (Photo: CA-Images)
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP
CONCACAF Qualifying -- Final Round, Matchday 5
Date: June 8, 2017
Match: USA v Trinidad & Tobago
Venue: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, Colorado, USA
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
MATCH OFFICIALS
R: Oscar Moncada (Honduras)
AR1: Christian Ramirez (Honduras)
AR2: Melvyn Cruz (Honduras )
4th: Raul Castro (Honduras)
SUSPENSIONS
USA: none
Trinidad & Tobago: none
ALL-TIME WCQ SERIES
USA leads: 12W-3D-1L (25GF, 5GA)
LAST WCQ MEETNG
September 6, 2016: USA 4, Trinidad & Tobago 0
Sacha Kljestan 43’; Jozy Altidore 59’, 62’; Paul Arriola 71’
FIVE MATCH WCQ FORM
USA: DWLLW
Trinidad & Tobago: LWLLL
CONCACAF QUALIFYING RESULTS
USA (Overall record: 5W-2D-3L … 28GF, 10GA)
13.11.15 USA v St. Vincent & the Grenadines 6-1
17.11.15 Trinidad & Tobago v USA 0-0
25.03.16 Guatemala v USA 2-0
29.03.16 USA v Guatemala 4-0
02.09.16 St. Vincent & the Grenadines v USA 0-6
06.09.16 USA v Trinidad & Tobago 4-0
11.11.16 USA v Mexico 1-2
15.11.16 Costa Rica v USA 4-0
24.03.17 USA v Honduras 6-0
28.03.17 Panama v USA 1-1
Trinidad Tobago (Overall record: 4W-2D-4L … 15GF, 15GA)
13.11.15 Guatemala v Trinidad & Tobago 1-2
17.11.15 Trinidad & Tobago v USA 0-0
25.03.16 St. Vincent & the Grenadines v Trinidad & Tobago 2-3
29.03.16 Trinidad & Tobago v St. Vincent & the Grenadines 6-0
02.09.16 Trinidad & Tobago v Guatemala 2-2
06.09.16 USA v Trinidad & Tobago 4-0
11.11.16 Trinidad & Tobago v Costa Rica 0-2
15.11.16 Honduras v Trinidad & Tobago 3-1
24.03.17 Trinidad & Tobago v Panama 1-0
28.03.17 Trinidad & Tobago v Mexico 0-1
CONCACAF QUALIFYING SCORERS
USA: Jozy Altidore (6); Clint Dempsey (5); Christian Pulisic, Bobby Wood (3); Geoff Cameron, Sacha Kljestan (2); Paul Arriola, Matt Besler, Michael Bradley, Fabian Johnson, Sebastian Lletget, Gyasi Zardes, Graham Zusi (1)
Trinidad & Tobago: Kenwyne Jones, Joevin Jones (3); Trevin Caesar, Levi Garcia, Kevin Molino (2); Sheldon Bateau, Khaleem Hyland, Carlyle Mitchell (1)
FINAL ROUND SUMMARY
USA: After opening the final round with two straight losses, the U.S. (4th place: 1W-1D-2L, 4 points) replaced head coach Jurgen Klinsmann with Bruce Arena. The second Arena era opened with a sparkling 6-0 win over visiting Honduras and then a 1-1 draw at Panama. Those encounters were marked by the reemergence of forward Clint Dempsey, who scored four goals – including three against Honduras -- following a long layoff for an irregular heartbeat.
Trinidad & Tobago: Similar to the U.S., Trinidad & Tobago (6th place: 1-0-3, 3) opened the Hexagonal with two straight loss and replaced head coach Stephen Hart with Tom Saintfiet, who left after a month in charge. Former T&T international Dennis Lawrence was put in charge and -- in his competitive debut – masterminded a 1-0 win over visiting Panama on matchday four on Kevin Molino’s 37th-minute goal. A narrow 1-0 loss to first-place Mexico followed, but it appears that confidence has been restored, especially on the defensive end of the field.
FAST FACTS
USA
- Played in every World Cup from Italy 1990 through Brazil 2014 … longest active streak by any CONCACAF side.
- Holds record for most Hexagonal wins (30) and most first-place finishes (3).
- Scored most goals in fourth-round WCQ play (20 … Guatemala #2 with 18).
- Clint Dempsey is the USA’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup Qualifying with 18 goals.
- With 56 goals, Clint Dempsey is one goal short of equaling Landon Donovan’s all-time U.S. record.
Trinidad & Tobago
- Qualified for only one FIFA World Cup, playing in Germany 2006 after overcoming Bahrain in a two-match playoff, 2-1 on aggregate.
- Current forward Kenwyne Jones appeared in two matches at the 2006 World Cup (entered as a first-half substitute in 2-0 loss v Paraguay … started and played 70 minutes in 2-0 loss v England).
- Conceded one goals in last two WCQs, after conceding 11 in previous four.
- Competing in fourth Hexagonal.
ONE MORE THING
- Trinidad & Tobago’s only win over the U.S. in WCQ play came at home on October 15, 2008, 2-1 (Russell Latapy 60’; Dwight Yorke 79’ / Charlie Davies 74’).
