The United
States ground out a lacklustre 0-0 draw against Trinidad & Tobago to keep
their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign on track here Tuesday.
Jurgen
Klinsmann's side neutralised a physical Trinidad team in hot and humid
conditions at the 27,000-seat Hasely Crawford Stadium but despite dominating
possession for much of the second half were unable to find a decisive goal.
The
Americans hit the woodwork twice in the second half, with Gyasi Zardes crashing
a header against the woodwork in the 46th minute and Jermaine Jones seeing a fierce
long-range strike tipped onto the bar in the 78th minute by Jan Michael
Williams.
The result
left the Americans with four points from two games in the CONCACAF region's
preliminary Group B, which also contains Guatemala and St Vincent and the
Grenadines.
The top two
teams in the group advance to the final six-team round robin phase for a place
at the World Cup finals in Russia.
A lacklustre
first half saw Klinsmann's team struggle to impose themselves against a
Trinidad side spearheaded by Kenwyne Jones.
The Cardiff
City striker almost set up a goal for Joevin Jones in the first minute, but the
striker hit high and wide to the relief of the visiting defence.
Jones always
looked the likeliest source of a Trinidad goal during a low-key opening period,
shooting wide of Tim Howard in the US goal after 10 minutes.
Everton
goalkeeper Howard, making his first start for the United States since his
heroic performance in the 2014 World Cup exit against Belgium, spent most of
the half as a spectator.
At the other
end, the best American chance came from Jozy Altidore, with the Toronto FC
forward missing the bar by millimetres with a dipping long range volley from 30
yards in the 21st minute.
Trinidad's
best attack came in the 26th minute, when Khaleem Hyland split the US defence
to release Cordell Cato, who snatched at his shot and dragged it wide of the
post.
The United
States should have taken the lead early in the second half, when DeAndre Yedlin
sent Altidore away down the right.
Altidore
crossed superbly to pick out Zardes but the unmarked Los Angeles Galaxy forward
wasted a free header, crashing his effort against the bar with the goal
begging.
Midfielder
Jones rattled the woodwork late on but Trinidad held on for the point.
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