USA vs. St Vincent and the Grenadines: World Cup 2018 Qualifier Score, Reaction

The USA moved one step closer to the next round of CONCACAF 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification on Friday, beating Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6-0 in Kingstown.

Bobby Wood opened the score after 28 minutes, and Matt Bessler doubled the lead shortly thereafter, ensuring Vincy Heat would never truly bother the Stars and Stripes. Jozy Altidore added to the lead from the penalty spot, and Christian Pulisic also got on the scoresheet. Sacha Kljestan contributed a fifth goal, and Pulisic put the final score on the board. 

Trinidad and Tobago will host Guatemala later on Friday, and a win for the Soca Warriors would see the USA qualify for the Hexagonal.

As expected, Altidore and Wood started up front for the visitors, who were without Clint Dempsey, via U.S. Soccer on Twitter:

As shared by Ives Galarcep of Goal, the national anthems were played on steel drums, which made for an amazing atmosphere:

The Stars and Stripes could―and perhaps should―have taken the lead after just two minutes, as a great attacking move over multiple stations saw Fabian Johnson pick out Woods in the centre of the box. The forward put the ball too close to goalkeeper Lemus Christopher, however.

The USA were all over Vincy Heat early on, limiting the hosts to mostly playing inside their own half. The one time they thought they did break the American defence, Oalex Anderson was called back for offside.

But while the Americans were clearly the better team, chances were few in the opening stages. Johnson seemed be at the core of every attack, and he cleverly picked out Graham Zusi, who tested Christopher again.

Galarcep noticed USA weren't creating a lot of chances:

Alejandro Bedoya tried his luck with an effort that only just missed the target, and Johnson had a shot blocked from a promising position, as the visitors increased the pace as the half wore on.

Anderson headed the hosts' first chance of the match into the arms of Brad Guzan, and Bedoya powered his effort right at Christopher, before the Americans were finally rewarded. Johnson teed up Wood beautifully, and the in-form striker produced a fine finish from just outside the box to give his team the lead.

ESPN Radio's Maximiliano Bretos got a little carried away:

"

World Class corner tucking by Bobby Wood. #USAvVIN

— Maximiliano Bretos (@mbretosESPN) September 2, 2016"

The goal opened the floodgates, and suddenly, the visitors were overrunning St. Vincent and the Grenadines with intensity. Just four minutes after the opener and just after Kellyn Acosta missed the target, Besler doubled the lead by blasting into the top corner from close range.

Per Fox Soccer, he paid tribute to his child with his celebration:

The mandatory water break followed soon after and couldn't have come at a better time for Vincy Heat, who needed to regain their composure. The hosts were better after the break and even threatened through Anderson, but the Stars and Stripes always seemed more likely to score.

Three minutes before half-time, Roy Richards brought down Wood inside the box, and Altidore didn't hesitate, handing his team a three-goal cushion heading into half-time.

Joe Tansey of Bleacher Report gave the visitors credit for doing what was expected:

St. Vincent's situation seemed dire, but to their credit, they came out with attacking intentions to start the second half, with Emrald George just missing the target with a hard drive. Cornelius Stewart did well to create some space for Anderson, who couldn't work the ball past Guzan.

The momentum soon vanished, however, as the Stars and Stripes settled into a nice, slow pace to kill the clock. Zusi provided some threat on the counter-attack, but he was just caught offside after a nice through ball from Bedoja.

Zusi had a shot blocked minutes later, and Anderson should have done better with a header in the centre of the box, firing wide. The forward had a goal ruled out for offside, before Pulisic added his name to the scoresheet, producing a classy finish with his left foot. Per Bleacher Report UK, he added his name to the record books in the process:

Kljestan did the hard work in the build-up, something Tansey noted he's been doing in the MLS for some time now:

The USA pushed for a fifth goal, with Acosta blasting over his mark and Wood fluffing a header. 

Pulisic returned the favour for Kljestan with 10 minutes left to play, setting up the former Anderlecht man for an easy tap-in from close range. Nazir McBurnette almost pulled a goal back for Vincy Heat, firing high and wide, and then Pulisic had the final word, curling home a beautiful shot to put the final score on the board.

The USA will meet Trinidad and Tobago in their final Group C match, while St. Vincent and the Grenadines visit Guatemala.