Bad news
U.S. soccer knocked out of World Cup with loss to Trinidad and Tobago
Sports Map Staff
Oct 10, 2017, 5:00 am
Jozy Altidore has to be wondering what happened as the U.S. lost to Trinidad and Tobago. Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
The United States men's national team will not play in the 2018 World Cup.
The U.S. was shocked by lowly Trinidad and Tobago in a 2-1 setback Tuesday night. That, coupled with wins by Honduras and Panama left the U.S. on the outside looking in.
Trinidad and Tobago had just one win before Tuesday night. The result was a shocker, and a blow to U.S. soccer, which now has to wait until the 2022 World Cup. It will take soccer out of the minds of the American sports fan for the next several years.
The U.S. fell behind 2-0 in the first half and never recovered despite Christian Pulisic's early goal to start the second half. The U.S. had chances, but lacked the desperation needed.
The loss is a major embarassment for U.S. Soccer, which will not play in the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The U.S. finished fifth in CONCACAF, one of the easier qualifying groups. The U.S. proved that despite its best efforts, it does not measure up as an international soccer competitor.
Bruce Arena replaced Jurgen Klinsmann halfway through qualifying, but it did not matter. The U.S. team simply was not good enough, and now has four years to sort out the future.
Pulisic is a current and future star, but expect major changes and shakeups. That is for another day.
Today was about a failure of epic proportions.
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The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
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Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.