U.S. Domination Of T&T Leaves Hexagonal Qualification A Point Away

Americans' 3-0 Victory In Chicago All But Guarantees Passage To Next Round

Qualifying for the World Cup-- in this case, for 2010 in South Africa-- is a lengthy, drawn-out, multiple-round marathon and nothing makes it easier than to run out to convincing victories early in the competition.

The USA, with nine points from three wins in three matches, have put themselves in a dominant position to move on to the next round after a convincing victory--let's not quite call it a demolition-- against Trinidad & Tobago in Chicago on Wednesday night.

The first two games in this qualifying round looked to be challenging, as they were road games. First, the hostile environment of Guatemala was overcome; then, the Americans set foot on Cuban soil for the first time in 60-odd years and held on to a 1-0 win that should certainly have been larger.

Their first home game of the campaign, before a spirited, chant-happy crowd in Chicago-- home of one of Major League Soccer's most intense and vocal fan bases-- saw the US up by two before the game was a quarter gone, as Michael Bradley-- no longer 'just the coach's son,' but a worthy international in his own right-- and Clint Dempsey (pictured) scored. Brian Ching headed home a goal in the second half (for which Oguchi "Gooch" Onyewu actually did all the work, leaping high to head Landon Donovan's cross after an ugly tackle on Steve Cherundolo) and it was all over.

One indication of the recent quality of the play of the American side is that this was their sixth consecutive shutout; goalkeeper Tim Howard had little to do, although he was fortunate that Cherundolo was hugging the post and able to deflect a goalward-bound shot late in the second half.  Playing without Dwight Yorke-- Trinidad's only real big-name player, who remained in England with his club team, Sunderland-- the islanders seemed punchless. Cornell Glen seemed to have a few opportunities, but always seemed to run into a clump of American defenders before shooting.

One more win from their last three games would be enough to put the US into the next round of the competition, the "Hexagonal"-- another lengthly round in which the six remaining teams vie for 3 spots in the World Cup Finals in 2010.