The U.S. men's national team's back was against the wall in World Cup qualifying, but it entered Friday with a chance to seize control of its own destiny when hosting Panama at Orlando City Stadium in Florida, and it took that opportunity well.
Christian Pulisic scored early and set up Jozy Altidore for another goal, before Altidore capped a dominant first half with a penalty kick to give the USA a 3-0 edge in a must-have match. Bobby Wood's insurance goal in the second half ensured the three valuable points went the USA's way in a dominant 4-0 victory.
The USA entered the day in fourth place in CONCACAF's World Cup qualifying table, with the top three assured berths in Russia 2018 and fourth place sent to an intercontinental playoff against either Australia or Syria. In order to avoid the latter–or worse, miss out altogether–Bruce Arena's side had to bounce back at home, where it previously dropped two qualifiers during the Hex. It did so in a big way and now sits in third place, with the scenarios in its favor with one game to go
Pulisic sparked an early moment of promise for the United States, nutmegging a defender in the center of the park before spraying it left for Altidore, but the forward's chance from 18 yards was blocked in the third minute.
The USA maintained its early pressure and nearly went ahead through Bobby Wood, the late-game hero of the previous qualifier against Honduras. After a corner kick, Darlington Nagbe found Wood in the center of the box with a cross from the left, but the Hamburg forward pulled his hurried chance just wide of the right post in the sixth minute.