USMNT rolls into final phase of World Cup qualifying with 4-0 win over T&T

The United States men’s national team romped into the final phase of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a 4-0 rout of Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday, securing the top spot in Group C of the fourth phase. A goal by Sacha Kljestan, a pair of them by Jozy Altidore and a fourth by Paul Arriola did the job for the U.S.

The fifth and final phase – the so-called hexagonal round, which will send three of six teams to the World Cup and a fourth to a playoff after a double-round robin – will open with U.S. games against Mexico at home and away to Costa Rica in November.

The Yanks needed a win to clinch the group and a tie to ensure they advanced. A loss meant that Guatemala could equal them on points, except that they would also have to make up a full 12 goals on the USA’s scoring record to advance in their stead.

Trinidad and Tobago forged a few half-looks early but plainly had no interest in attacking for the bulk of the game, sitting in its own half and inviting the Americans out. It took a while for Jurgen Klinsmann’s team to begin converting its chances. For a half hour or so, the USA’s service in the final third was poor, and when that defect was mended, the finishing let them down.

Kljestan airmailed a half-volley and then Christian Pulisic, making his first start for the USA a few weeks before his 18th birthday, breaking Landon Donovan’s record for youngest American starter in a World Cup qualifier, managed to ping a finish off both posts with a single shot.

But on the brink of halftime, Pulisic’s low cross was cleared right into the feet of Kljestan, who poked it into the bottom corner to put the U.S. ahead.

Then, after halftime, Pulisic and his mostly much older peers ran riot. Trinidad stirred for a spell, but just before the hour, Altidore decided the game with a lovely move. He turned away from his man at the top of the box and then subtly rolled the ball to the near post and past the goalkeeper.

That was his 15th career goal in World Cup qualifying, breaking the USA record.

Four minutes later, Pulisic played a great one-two with Kljestan to free himself up the left. His hard, low cross found Altidore at the far post, who contorted himself well to get the ball into the goal from a dastardly angle. Quietly, he had scored his eighth U.S. goal in as many games.

Finally, Pulisic set up yet another attack with a fearless run through the middle of the field. The ball eventually made it back to him via Altidore, but his shot was parried. Arriola was there to sweep it home, though, handing him his second USA goal in his second appearance.

Trinidad would threaten again late on, but it was too little to concern the home team, which had commanded the game in Jacksonville, Fla. And the Americans very nearly got a fifth when Pulisic sent Altidore through on goal, but he lifted his finish too high.

The United States is off to the hexagonal, and with a cumulative 10-0 score in its final games against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago in the span of five days, a certain momentum has built, even if the opposition was weak.

Because there’s no arguing with double-digit goals over two games.

Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.