Teenage wonder Christian Pulisic had two goals and an assist in under 25 minutes off the bench as the United States men’s national team clobbered Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6-0 on Friday at Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown.
Bobby Wood, Matt Besler, Jozy Altidore, and Sacha Kljestan also scored for the Yanks, who can advance to the final round of World Cup qualifying if Trinidad and Tobago defeats Guatemala later.
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Altidore’s goal, his 35th, moved him out of a tie with Eric Wynalda for third place on the all-time list for USMNT players. Dempsey is second with 52, five behind leader Landon Donovan.
Kellyn Acosta started at left back for the U.S., and is now cap-tied to the country (Brian Sciaretta points out that he had the opportunity to represent Japan).
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The Yanks charged hard out of the gate, and Altidore won a first minute corner kick.
That was cleared, and Fabian Johnson played Wood through for a should be opener only to see the Hamburg man flub his left foot shot into a diving Lemus Christopher.
Altidore won a free kick in the fifth minute, and the U.S. saw its training ground routine fall flat with a weak pass in the left of the 18.
Wood came down the left with acres of space and worked his way into the 18 where he was felled in pursuit of goal, but no whistle.
The one time SVG had a legit scoring chance it was headed poorly by a diving Oalex Anderson.
[ WATCH: Pulisic, Kljestan combine... twice ]
The Americans went ahead moments later, as Altidore used a combination of skill and force to open space for Johnson. The ‘Gladbach man laid off for Wood, who curled home a gorgeous finish from 20 yards.
Besler added his within five minutes, with the team giving birth to the ball in celebration after SVG nodded a Zusi free kick back post. Besler’s wife gave birth to a daughter earlier Friday.
Guzan was called into action on a back post corner, slapping the offering out for another corner that the U.S. controlled in the 42nd minute.
Roy Richards chopped down Wood in the box in the 43rd minute, a kick to the stomach earning a yellow card and a penalty. Altidore had no problem, and it was 3-0 into half.
Klinsmann did not sub at the half, and SVG has a goal called back for offside early in the period.
Sacha Kljestan and Christian Pulisic subbed into the match with 24 minutes to play, and linked up for a goal within 10 minutes; The savvy veteran used his set-up to indicate shot before altering his foot to play Pulisic in on goal. The kid didn’t miss.
Moments later, the provider turned finisher and vice versa. Pulisic dribbled into the 18, squaring the ball right for Kljestan to pass home.
5-0. Impact subs. Watch those goals here.