Football
Associated Press 8y

United States, Mexico cruise in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying

Jozy Altidore scored twice as the United States bounced back from an early deficit and routed tiny St. Vincent and the Grenadines 6-1 on Friday night in the Americans' opening qualifier for the 2018 World Cup.

Oalex Anderson, a member of the third-division Seattle Sounders 2, took advantage of defensive confusion by Gyasi Zardes and DeAndre Yedlin to put 129th-ranked St. Vincent ahead in the fifth minute.

But Bobby Wood tied the score in the 11th, Fabian Johnson put the 33rd-ranked Americans ahead in the 29th and Altidore scored two minutes later, becoming the fifth U.S. player to reach 30 international goals.

Geoff Cameron and Zardes boosted the lead to 5-1 early in the second half, and Altidore added his second goal in the 74th.

The Americans are unbeaten in 10 straight World Cup qualifying openers and extended their home unbeaten streak in qualifying to 28 games (26-0-2) since 2001.

Portland midfielder Darlington Nagbe and New York Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga made their national team debuts midway through the second half. Nagbe, 25, was born in Liberia and became a U.S. citizen in September. Miazga, 20, also was eligible to play for Poland before Friday.

Juan Carlos Osario's debut as Mexico head coach got off to a flying start with a 3-0 win over El Salvador at Estadio Azteca.

The new manager didn't have to wait long for a goal in his bow for El Tri, as Andres Guardado scored from a free kick in the seventh minute to put his team ahead.

Mexico continued to apply the pressure and were unlucky on several occasions in the first half to not score.

Hector Herrera added a second goal just before the first-half whistle blew, as his chip into the penalty area barely missed Javier Hernandez and then trickled into the net past El Salvador goalkeeper Henry Hernandez to make the score 2-0 at halftime.

Osorio's team continued to create chances in the second half of this one-sided affair, and found its third in the 64th minute when Carlos Vela chipped home from a lovely through ball from Jesus Corona.

Mexico travel to Honduras in the team's second WCQ match on Nov. 17.

Canada opened their qualifying campaign with a 1-0 win at home against Honduras. 

MLS Rookie of the Year Cyle Larin gave his team the only goal they needed in the 38th minute to earn three points against Los Catrachos.

Goals from Khaleem Hyland and Kenwyne Jones gave Trinidad and Tobago a 2-1 win over Guatemala in their opening Group C qualifier in Guatemala City.

Carlos Mejia scored a late consolation goal for the home side.

T&T are enext in action on Tuesday, when the host the United States. 

Panama struck on either side of half-time to beat 2015 Gold Cup finalists Jamaica 2-0 in Kingston.

Armando Cooper and Alberto Quintero scored in the 43rd and 53rd minutes, respectively, to get the Central American side's qualifying campaign off to a perfect start.

Costa Rica snuck past plucky Haiti 1-0 at the Estadio Nacional.

Cristian Gamboa struck in the 30th minute to hand the 2014 World Cup darlings a winning start on their road to Russia 2018.

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