USMNT - Trinidad and Tobago summary: score, goals, highlights | CONCACAF Nations League
USMNT vs Trinidad and Tobago: As it happened
The United States eased past a determined Trinidad and Tobago to take control of this two-legged Nations League quarter-final.
Gregg Berhalter's team dominated the ball from the first minute but struggle to create any clear-cut chances. They may have thought that would change with the first half dismissal of Noah Powder but the visitors continued to make life difficult.
With the game dragging on it looked like Trinidad and Tobago might pull off a famous result, until substitute Ricardo Pepi found the breakthrough in the 82nd minute. That goal appeared to break the visitors' steely resolve and Antonee Robinson and Gio Reyna added two more late on.
With a 3-0 first leg victory, USMNT have all-but booked their place in the semi-finals of the Nations League and secured qualification for the 2024 Copa America. It wasn't always pretty, but the US got the job done.
Peeep peeeep peeeeeeep
And that's that, the United States have the win and almost certainly a place in the 2024 Copa America.
They made hard work of it but a flurry of late goals was enough to beat ten-man Trinidad and Tobago.
The US are continuing to push forward, looking for the fourth goal that would absolutely finish this tie as a contest.
To recap, this is the first game in a two-legged quarter-final. The aggregate winner will not only advance to the semi-finals of the Nations League, but will also secure qualification for the 2024 Copa America.
Folarin Balogun is not happy with that decision, and presumably a little frustrated to have gone goalless in 90 minutes against Trinidad and Tobago.
The young forward struggled to get into the game for the first hour but grew into it in the second half.
It looks so comfortable for the US now, but it took them a long time to find that breakthrough.
USMNT come forward again with Balogun, who goes down in the box... but no penalty!
Neveal Hackshaw
The Trinidad and Tobago substitute picks up a booking for a cynical foul on the halfway line.
There will be a minimum of six minutes of added time at the end of the second half.
Gregg Berhalter is not happy with that news.
Goooooaaaal! USMNT
Brilliant interplay between Balogun and Reyna and the latter coolly slots the ball past Smith in the Trinidad and Tobago net.
Another international goal for Gio Reyna!
So close! USMNT
USMNT come forward again and the ball drops to Pepi on the penalty spot. He has the whole goal to aim at but lashes his effort wide.
The hosts are really on top now.
Goooooaaaaal! USMNT
The US have a second, a brilliant strike from Antonee Robinson from the edge of the box!
Gregg Berhalter's side are in the driving seat now.
Here's the crucial breakthrough goal from Ricardo Pepi, finally finding a way through this resolute Trinidad and Tobago backline.
It took a while, but USMNT are finally ahead at Q2 Stadium. Pepi has added another dimension to the attacking structure and it is he who finds the breakthrough from Gregg Berhalter's team.
Goooooaaaaal! USMNT
Finally the hosts have the breakthrough and it's Ricardo Pepi!
It was a brilliant finish from a narrow angle, flicking the ball past Smith with a backheel!
Trinidad and Tobago manage to get the ball forward to substitute Garcia, their primary goal threat. For a second it looks like he may have a shot at goal but the US get enough defenders back to smother the chance.
Close! USMNT
Perhaps the clearest opening of the evening!
McKennie finds Robinson in space on the left and he fires the ball across to Aaronson in the middle. The Union Berlin forward swipes the ball goalward but Smith pushes it out.
Pepi and Balogun look to pick up the rebound but one - or both - is adjudged to be offside.
T&T win a free kick, giving Raymond the chance to re-enter the field of play. Just 15 minutes remaining for the visitors to see out now.
There's a bit of injury concern for Trinidad and Tobago as Raymond goes down near the touchline. He hobbles off to receive treatment, leaving his team down to nine men!
Close! USMNT
Another acrobatic save from Smith to keep out a fierce left-footed effort from Sergino Dest.
Big shouts for a penalty as Folarin Balogun spins on the edge of the box and takes a tumble.
Nothing there, the referee says.
We're into the last 20 minutes now and the United States are still ofor the breakthrough. The visitors have been down to ten men since the first half dismissal of Noah Powder.
Can they see this out until the end?
Nearly another chance for the US.
McKennie clips a clever ball over the T&T defence but Ricardo Pepi can't quite get his head on it.
The referee gives a foul in the penalty box and T&T win a free kick. A chance for them to get the ball up the pitch.
Sergino Dest whips in two crosses from the right flank but Trinidad and Tobago manage to get bodies in the way for both.
USMNT win a corner kick on the left, their eighth of the evening.
Close! USMNT
Really good chance for the substitute, just minutes after coming on!
Robinson got to the touchline and pulled the ball back to Brenden Aaronson. He looked to curl the ball into the far corner but it bounces just wide.
And there's a double change from the visitors. Williams and Garcia come on, replacing Rampersad and Shaw
First changes for USMNT as Paredes and Tillman are replaced by Ricardo Pepi and Brenden Aaronson.
Chance! USMNT
The hosts are back on the offensive, brought forward by Weston McKennie. The ball is cross from the right and lands at the feet of Paredes at the far post. He tries his luck from 12 yards but the ball flies over the crossbar.
VAR - No penalty!
Incredible. It looked like a nailed up penalty kick for the United States but the referee has overruled his own decision after consulting the VAR monitor on the side of the pitch.
We play on...
It was Weston McKennie, bursting into the T&T box, who was hacked down by a wild tackle from Phillips.
The referee is going across to check it on the VAR monitor, but that looked like a fairly clear-cut decision.
Penalty! USMNT
The pressure has been building and it looks like it's finally told for the hosts!
There's a rare foray for Trinidad and Tobago, ending with the ball with Shaw near the corner flag. Shaw gives away a free kick.
VAR check
Something amiss in the penalty box, apparently. Looks like it could be a potential handball.
Nope, nothing doing and play resumes.
Close! USMNT
After another prolonged spell of passing, Yunus Musah lets fly from 25 yards that looks destined for the back of the net.
T&T goalkeeper Smith makes a stunning save, diving to his left, to palm the ball clear. Brilliant stop from Smith.
Chance! USMNT
Neat footwork from Gio Reyna in the box, swivelling well to make space for a shot. His effort is too central, though, and Smith easily saves.
Musah works the ball out to Dest on the right and he whips in a teasing ball. There's some more last-ditch defending from the visitors but they manage to get the ball cleared.
McKennie does well to slide the ball through to Tillman, sprinting in behind the T&T defence. The PSV midfielder takes a heavy touch and Smith gets out well to smother.
The US take a quick free kick on the halfway line to get Reyne sprinting forwards. He makes good progress but his pass out to Dest is a little underhit and Trinidad and Tobago get back to disrupt the play.
Another decent opening wasted by poor passing.
USMNT make a slightly better start to the second half but are still struggling to find the final ball when required.
Impressive stuff from T&T to keep the US at bay.
Corner kick for USMNT after good work from Paredes. Reyna across to take it...
The visitors clear easily.
No changes for USMNT at the break, but you imagine that Gregg Berhalter will have made very clear that he expects improvement. With the likes of Ricardo Pepi and Brenden Aaronson on the bench, Berhalter has options.
And we're back!
Trinidad and Tobago get the second half underway...
It looks like a halftime change from Trinidad and Tobago, Hackshaw comes on for Telfer.
USMNT struggle to create chances
They have dominated the ball at Q2 Stadium, but USMNT have failed to really test the Trinidad and Tobago goal in the opening 45 minutes. This effort - a speculation shot from left back Antonee Robinson - was about the closest that the US came to finding a breakthrough.
And that's half time!
Frustrating first half for USMNT as they fail to find the break-through against ten-man Trinidad and Tobago.
Big improvement needed in the second half.
McKennie sets Robinson streaking through down the left. The left back fires a tantalising low cross across the six-yard box but the ball just evades Balogun in the middle.
Smith gratefully smothers the ball
Alvin Jones wins a free kick for T&T, a chance for the visitors to take a breather.
Can they make it through to the break without conceding?
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of the first half.
Good build-up play from the US but, once again, it's let down by a por final ball.
Tillman looked to find Balogun running through on goal but he overhits the pass.
Good play from Tim Ream to pinch the ball off Telfer and get USMNT back on the offensive. Can they fashion a chance before the break?
Gio Reyna looks to play a first-time pass through to Balogun but gets it all wrong.
Trinidad and Tobago win a goal kick.
Halftime is fast approaching at Q2 Stadium and USMNT are still yet to create any clear-cut chances. Work to be done for Gregg Berhalter at the break...
USMNT come forward on the right again. Dest finds some space on the edge of the box but his right-footed shot flies well over the crossbar.
Noah Powder (Trinidad and Tobago)
And he's off!
The New Jersey-born midfielder is dismissed for a second yellow. It was a brainless tackle on the halfway line, earning him another booking.
Can the visitors make it to the half?
McKennie does brilliantly to withstand a series of challenges in the middle of midfield, before being hacked down by Powder on the halfway line.
Noah Powder could be in danger here...
Clever interplay between Dest and Tillman on the right but T&T win it back on the edge of their box. Gomez wins a free kick.
The US are back on the ball and look to get things moving again.
Without the inventive of Pulisic in the team, the US' best chance looks like the off-the-ball runs in wide areas. The visitors are struggling to track the likes of Tillman for those darting runs.
First little spell of possession for Trinidad and Tobago as they play the ball around the back with a bit of confidence.
The corner kick from Reyna causes a scramble in the T&T box but the hosts cant force a real opening. Tillman is ruled offside and T&T win a free kick.
Half an hour gone, still 0-0.
USMNT come charging forward again, this time slipping the ball through to Tillman on the right of the box.
His attempted cross in blocked and it goes out for a US corner...
Close! USMNT
Another decent opening for USMNT and this time it came from a long ball!
An early pass out of the US backline found Balogun charging into the T&T penalty box. The ball bounced free on the edge of the box and Tillman pounced, but his effort is dragged wide of the post.
The two USMNT full backs are essentially playing as wingers, leaving just Carter-Vickers and Ream on the halfway line to recycle the ball.
It makes sense, there is no sign of any offensive intent from T&T so far.
Chance! USMNT
First real opening falls to Malik Tillman!
Balogun made a good run behind the T&T backline to collect the ball and found Tillman arriving on the penalty spot. Tillman looked to poke the ball nonchalantly past Smith but his effort flies well over the crossbar.
Brilliant take from T&T goalkeeper Smith to pluck the ball out of the air as it was approaching the head of Sergino Dest.
This slightly stodgy opening has dulled the atmosphere in Q2 Stadium. USMNT could do with a goal to settle things.
Noah Powder
The T&T defender is booked for that over-zealous tackle on Weston McKennie.
Good attacking play from Shaw to hold the ball up for Trinidad and Tobago. That gave them a chance to get up the pitch but Powder went in a little too heavily on McKennie.
Free kick on the halfway line to USMNT.
Reyna tries to whip in a cross from out on the left but it's easily repelled. Paredes attempts the same but that too is easily dealt with.
Gregg Berhalter might be a little frustration about the US delivery there.
USMNT are dominating possession but haven't managed to create any clear chances in the opening quarter of an hour.
The hosts have had 83% of the ball.
Reyna picks up the ball on the left of the box and floats a delicate cross over to the on-rushing Tillman at the far post. Tillman wins the ball but can't get any power on his head and Smith smothers easily.
The first cross is cleared but McKennie wins it back for USMNT. The US pour forward again.
Reyna is playing as an attacking midfielder tonight, with a freedom to drift around the middle of the pitch. He looks to feed the ball from the Paredes on the left, but it's blocked.
Another corner for USMNT...
T&T clear the initial cross but USMNT are right back on the attack, winning another corner kick from the left.
This time the cross causes a bit more danger but T&T still manage to clear the ball.
The ball is worked wide to Dest again on the right and the full back whips in a cross. He seems to mis-place the cross but it forces a sharp save out of Smith in the T&T goal.
Corner kick USMNT...
It's clear in the opening stages that the US will be pushing very high. Both McKennie and Musah, ostensibly the holding midfielders, are pushed up to the edge of the T&T penalty box.
McKennie's looked good in the early moments.
Clever ball from McKennie to find Dest in space on the right of the box. He tries to find Balogun in the middle but the Monaco forward can't make space for a shot.
Early dominance for the United States as they play the ball around the middle of the field, looking for a gap in the T&T defence.
Home crowd is in good voice.
And we're off!
USMNT forward Folarin Balogun gets things underway at Q2 Stadium!
The teams are out and we're onto the national anthems at Q2 Stadium.
First up it's Trinidad and Tobago, before a live rendition of the United States' national anthem.
So to recap, the winner of this Nations League tie between USMNT and Trinidad and Tobago will qualify for the 2024 Copa America. It's a two-legged tie, meaning that the full time whistle tonight will only be the halfway point in this clash.
The second leg will be held in Trinidad next week.
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We're now just minutes away from kick-off at Q2 Stadium!
We will be bringing you full live coverage of the game right here, but you can also watch or stream USMNT vs Trinidad and Tobago. Here's everything you need to know...
USMNT head out at Q2 Stadium
There's around 20 minutes to go until kick-off here and the USMNT warm-up is well underway. Tonight's game should be fairly comfortable but everyone involved will be aware of the 2017 calamity against Trinidad and Tobago that denied the US a place in the 2018 World Cup.
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USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter has named a strong team for tonight's Nations League tie against Trinidad and Tobago. However there is one very key absence: Christian Pulisic.
The AC Milan star picked up an injury in a recent Champions League victory over PSG.
Q2 Stadium ready for USMNT - Trinidad clash
Tonight is the first leg of a two-legged quarter final in the CONCACAF Nations League. USMNT host Trinidad and Tobago in the first leg at Q2 Stadium, home of MLS side Austin FC.
Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT side can book their place in next year’s Copa América when they take on Trinidad and Tobago over two legs. All eyes are on Berhalter, who recently returned to lead the team.
“It’s a great opportunity for the team. The quarter-finals and potentially the semi-finals, and of course, the Copa América, which is the main goal,” said the USA coach.
And here's the Trinidad and Tobago starting XI...
They come into tonight's game as underdogs but there is reason for USMNT to be fearful as they prepare to face Trinidad and Tobago. In October 2017 the United States were beaten 2-1 by Trinidad and Tobago to extinguish their hopes of making it to the World Cup in Russia.
Six years on, Trinidad and Tobago stand between USMNT and a place in next year's Copa America...
Here's the USMNT line up for tonight...
Gregg Berhalter has named a strong team for the visit of Trinidad and Tobago this evening. Folarin Balogun retains his place up front, while Tim Ream will wear the captain's armband.
Tonight USMNT face Trinidad and Tobago at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. Check out how you can keep tabs on it. This is the first leg of a double header with the Soca Warriors playing host on Monday 20th. The winner will progress to the 2024 Copa América next summer.
Here's everything you need to know...
USMNT target Copa America qualification
They may be hosting, but they'll still have to work to compete. As the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup, the US will also be hosting the Copa America in 2024.
The tournament is traditional the preserve of South American nations, but for next year's edition six teams from CONCACAF will also be allowed to enter.
USMNT have to beat Trinidad and Tobago in this two-legged quarter-final to make it.
Hello and welcome to AS USA!
I'm Will Gittins and I'll be bringing you full live coverage of the CONCACAF Nations League clash between USMNT and Trinidad and Tobago. This is the first leg of the quarter-final, the winner of the two-legged tie will secure qualification for the 2024 Copa America.