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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Jose Altuve hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning that sent the Houston Astros to an 8-5 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night.
That ball landed on Mars.#TheNextFrontier pic.twitter.com/yDh0fp1RvO
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 29, 2025
Christian Walker also had a two-run shot in the fourth to begin Houston's comeback from a 3-0 deficit. The Astros still trailed by one when Jeremy Peña singled in the sixth. Altuve followed with his drive off Jack Flaherty (1-3) that crashed off the wall above the left-field seats to put Houston up 4-3.
Altuve had two hits and three RBIs while batting second for the first time since 2023. He asked to move out of the leadoff spot to give him more time to get ready to hit in the first inning after coming in from the outfield. The nine-time All-Star moved to left field this year after spending his first 14 major league seasons playing second base.
Houston’s victory snapped a four-game winning streak for the Tigers, who got two homers from Riley Greene and one from Kerry Carpenter but managed just two other hits.
The Astros tacked on four runs in the seventh with the help of sloppy defense by the Tigers. Rookie shortstop Trey Sweeney made throwing errors on consecutive plays with no outs to put runners at second and third.
Mauricio Dubón singled to score them both and extend the lead. Houston added runs on a groundout by Altuve and an RBI single by Yordan Alvarez to push it to 8-3.
Houston starter Ronel Blanco allowed three hits and three runs while striking out six in five innings. Steven Okert (1-0) worked a scoreless sixth for the win. Josh Hader pitched the ninth for his eighth save.
Flaherty yielded six hits and four runs — both season highs — in five-plus innings.
Key moment
Altuve’s home run.
Key stat
Peña has four hits in two games batting leadoff. He hit first Sunday — with Altuve getting a day off — and stayed in the top spot Monday when Altuve dropped to second.
Up next
Houston RHP Ryan Gusto (3-1, 2.78 ERA) opposes RHP Reese Olson (3-1, 3.28) when the series continues Tuesday night.