SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador.- El Salvador and the United States settled for a scoreless stalemate at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador on Thursday, with both teams starting off the final round of World Cup qualification with a point.
One of the best opportunities for the visitors to break the deadlock came in the 76th minute, when the U.S. built out of the back and Weston McKennie put in a cross toward Kellyn Acosta, his fellow Texan. Acosta nodded the ball on goal, but La Selecta goalkeeper Mario Gonzalez was there to make the stop.
McKennie had another good chance in the 72nd minute, when Gio Reyna saw his run down the center of the park and set him up in the box, but McKennie sent his header wide of the net and the score remained tied.
El Salvador also had their chances to score, especially from corner kicks. United States goalkeeper Matt Turner was called into action on a number of set pieces, getting down to stop a shot from outside the box in the first 45 and denying El Salvador center back Eriq Zavaleta’s header in the 56th minute.
The North Americans head home for a meeting against neighbors Canada, while El Salvador also hosts a regional rival, welcoming neighbor Honduras.
