Bobby Wood put an exclamation point on the U.S.’s WCQ triumph. (Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports)
ORLANDO — Bruce Arena could not have asked for more from his three top attacking players in the U.S.’s 4-0 thrashing of Panama Friday night.
Striker Jozy Altidore scored twice and set up a third goal, midfielder Christian Pulisic collected a goal and an assist and forward Bobby Wood closed out the World Cup qualifier at Orlando City Stadium with a goal.
“Bobby Wood and Jozy were a handful for their center backs, and certainly Christian was as well,” said Arena. “Some of our counter-attacks were great. [Pulisic’s] first goal was a terrific finish. I think all three of those guys played well up top. Jozy had two goals, Bobby one and Christian one. You can’t do better than that.”
The win allowed the Americans to leap frog over Los Canaleros and into third place and the final automatic berth for Russia 2018 with one game remaining in the CONCACAF Hexagonal. The top three teams will qualify with the fourth side meeting either Australia or Syria in a special playoff for the last slot.
“We’re doing well,” Arena said. “I know everyone thought we were going to qualify in six games in 2017. It doesn’t happen that way. I think we’re moving along well, we’ve advanced from sixth to third, we’re positioned well with goal differential, and now we have to finish it off on Tuesday in Trinidad.”
The 19-year-old Pulisic put the hosts in the right direction, finding the back of the net in the eighth minute before setting up Altidore later in the opening half. He paid for his early stellar play as the Central Americans repeatedly fouled the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
Arena pulled Pulisic for former Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty in the 57th so the midfielder could be in one piece for Tuesday’s game in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago.
“I think he’s going to be okay,” Arena said. “He was kicked a few times. He’s been getting beat up in these games in CONCACAF. That’s the way it is. It doesn’t look like anything is going to change.
“He took a few shots, and we thought it was smart to get him off the field. We felt confident that we could walk off with three points tonight. He got a few kicks.”
