After early shock, USA hit St Vincent for six
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USA Today via Reuters
Nov 13, 2015; St.Louis, MO, USA; USA forward Bobby Wood (18) is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Qualifying soccer match St. Vincent & The Grenadines at Busch Stadium. USA won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
REUTERS – The United States recovered from conceding a surprise early goal to crush St Vincent and the Grenadines 6-1 in their CONCACAF region, World Cup fourth round qualifying game in St Louis on Friday.
The Caribbean side, made up mainly of semi-professional and amateur players, stunned Jurgen Klinsmann’s team in the fifth minute when Oalex Anderson cut in from the left and curled a right foot effort past American keeper Brad Guzan.
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 13, 2015; St.Louis, MO, USA; St. Vincent & The Grenadines defender Million Prescott (16) and USA midfielder Jermaine Jones (13) fight for control of the ball during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Qualifying soccer match at Busch Stadium. USA won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
The United States were back on level terms six minutes later when Michael Bradley fed DeAndrew Yedlin, whose cross was headed in by striker Bobby Wood to ease the nerves of the 43,433 crowd at the home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball club.
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Wood and Bradley both went close before the Americans took the lead in the 29th minute when a Fabian Johnson free-kick took a big deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Winslow McDowall.
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 13, 2015; St.Louis, MO, USA; USA midfielder Fabian Johnson (23) handles the ball during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Qualifying soccer match St. Vincent & The Grenadines at Busch Stadium. USA won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
Jozy Altidore made it 3-1 in the 32nd minute with a simple header from close-range after he was left unmarked at the back post to convert after Jermaine Jones had flicked on a Johnson corner.
Klinsmann’s team had utterly dominated, with over 83 percent of the first half possession and they made sure of three points from their opening Group C game after the break.
Defender Geoff Cameron looped in a header from another Johnson corner to make it 4-1, six minutes after the re-start.
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 13, 2015; St.Louis, MO, USA; USA forward Bobby Wood (18) moves the ball past St. Vincent & The Grenadines midfielder Seinard Bowens (17) during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Qualifying soccer match at Busch Stadium. USA won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
Gyasi Zardes added the fifth when he was put through by Altidore and beat McDowall with a confident low drive.
Altidore added his second to make it 6-1 in the 74th minute, collecting a pass from Jones, twisting and turning to make space to score with a deflected shot.
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Defender Matt Miazga and midfielder Darlington Nagbe were both handed debuts with substitute appearances in the second half.
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 13, 2015; St.Louis, MO, USA; USA midfielder Michael Bradley (4) intercepts the ball during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Qualifying soccer match St. Vincent & The Grenadines at Busch Stadium. USA won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago, also in Group C, were playing later on Friday.
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The top two teams from each of the three groups of four nations will progress to the final round of qualifying.
(Reporting By Simon Evans; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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