The United States are three points away from booking their place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Christian Pulisic scored the opener and set up the second in Orlando, Jozy Altidore hit a brace and Bobby Wood added a later goal as the US cruised to a 4-0 victory over Panama in both teams' penultimate match of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying on Friday night. Dynamo defenders DaMarcus Beasley (USA) and Adolfo Machado (Panama) were unused substitutes for the match.
In the process, the Americans moved above Panama into third in the Hexagonal standings in the process, meaning another victory next Tuesday at Trinidad and Tobago would seal the region's third and final automatic berth for Russia.
A fourth-place finish would see the US thrown into a two-leg, do-or-die playoff against the fifth-place team from the Asian confederation.
Goals
- 8' - USA - Christian Pulisic Watch
- 19' - USA - Jozy Altidore Watch
- 43' - USA - Jozy Altidore (PK) Watch
- 63' - USA - Bobby Wood
Next Up
- USA: Tuesday, October 10 at Trinidad and Tobago (8 pm ET | beIN Sports, NBC Universo)
- PAN: Tuesday, October 10 vs. Costa Rica (8 pm ET)
