Antonee Robinson scored in the 52nd minute to give the U.S. men’s national team a 1-0 victory against El Salvador in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifier in frigid Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday.
The victory for the Americans (5-1-3, 18 points) moved them atop the group pending the outcome of the match later between leader Canada (16 points) and host Honduras.
The 14-match tournament will determine the top three qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar beginning in November. The region’s fourth-place team will go to a play-in match to qualify.
In the 82nd minute, Weston McKennie cleared the first El Salvador (1-5-3, 6 points) corner kick from danger.
U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner faced no shots on goal for the game as the Americans improved to 9-1-2 in World Cup qualifiers in Columbus.
The U.S. had an 8-3 shot advantage in the first half but was stymied by El Salvador until Robinson got his second international goal in his 20th appearance.
Tim Weah made a strong run to the right side of the box and forced a save by Mario Gonzalez. The ball popped to U.S. forward Jesus Ferreira, who headed a pass near the left post for Robinson’s volley.
The U.S. wanted cold weather for its warm-climate opponent and got it, with a kickoff temperature of 29 degrees and a wind chill of 25.
Its frozen tour continues Sunday afternoon against Canada in Hamilton, Ontario. The last match of the current cycle for the Americans is Wednesday in Saint Paul, Minn., against Honduras.
El Salvador plays at Honduras on Sunday.
The U.S. squandered two chances inside the box in the opening 20 minutes by Ferreira, the FC Dallas forward making his first competitive start.
El Salvador’s Alex Roldan, who plays for the Seattle Sounders, put a strike just outside the left post in the 28th minute.
The teams played a 0-0 tie in the September qualifier in El Salvador.
–Field Level Media