SANTA MONICA – Fans across the country watched in shock as the USMNT lost a heartbreaker Tuesday night, and ultimately were eliminated from the 2018 World Cup. This is the first time since 1986 that the USMNT has failed to qualify.
After crushing Panama 4-0 on Friday, the US men’s fate was completely within their control. They needed to beat, or at least tie Trinidad and Tobago, the last place team in their hexagonal group, to move on to the World Cup.
The game started off poorly for the USMNT and they never really recovered. Just 17 minutes into the match, a player from Trinidad and Tobago crossed the ball in front of the US goal. In an effort to block the pass, Omar Gonzalez deflected the ball into the back of the USMNT’s own goal, putting Trinidad and Tobago up 1-0.
Then, just 20 minutes later, the situation went from bad to worse when Trinidad and Tobago scored once again. Jones shot a rocket into the far left corner of the net, putting the USMNT down by two goals.
Christian Pulisic then gave fans a glimmer of hope when he scored in minute 47. That hope, however, was soon crushed when the USMNT failed to scored a second goal for the remainder of the match. Pulisic’s one goal was just not enough to save the USMNT.
Photos by ISI
