U.S. World Cup Hopes Alive, Thanks To 1-1 Tie In El Salvador

Soccer

All in all, Sunday’s World Cup qualifier was positive for the United States.

There wasn’t any crowd violence and the Americans got a point on the road, leaving them on track to qualify for next summer’s tournament in France.

“The crowd was well-behaved. We were well-treated,” U.S. coach Steve Sampson said after the 1-1 tie with El Salvador.

Roy Lassiter scored for the United States six minutes into the second half, but Raul Diaz Arce tied the score 10 minutes later.

The United States (1-1-3), which has six points, remained third in the six-team final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region with three home games left.

Mexico (3-0-2) leads with 11 points at the round’s midpoint, followed by Costa Rica (2-2-1) with seven. The top three nations qualify for next summer’s World Cup in France.

El Salvador moved into a fourth-place tie with Canada and Jamaica, all at 1-2-2 with five points.

“It is is important to get points on the road. It is always a positive result,” Sampson said. “This was a tie with some disappointment. We played well enough to win, particularly in the second half.”

The U.S. State Department warned of possible fan violence due to disturbances in El Salvador’s previous game against Mexico. There were no problems Sunday, with the crowd of 38,000 at Cuscatlan Stadium raucous but well-behaved.

Lassiter, who replaced David Wagner at forward to start the second half, put the Americans ahead after John Harkes sent a pass through two defenders.

Lassiter almost won the game with 40 seconds left, but his shot hit the crossbar. At the final whistle, he fell to his knees and pounded the grass in frustration.

The U.S. team played conservatively, using Wagner as the lone forward in the first half. Lassiter added speed in the second half, and Sampson added a second forward, Michael Mason, near the end.