Paul Caliguiri, meet Alvin Jones.
With the US national team needing only a draw to reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Jones' bombastic strike late in the first half helped Trinidad and Tobago seal a stunning 2-1 victory that sent shockwaves around CONCACAF and will keep the Americans home next summer.
Jones goal ends the Americans' streak of consecutive World Cup appearance at seven. That began at Italia '90, just months after Caliguiri's strike against Trinidad and Tobago in a 1-0 victory that sent the US to their first World Cup in 40 years.
With Panama and Honduras both winning, the Americans finished one point behind both in the race for CONCACAF's third and final automatic berth for the 2018 tournament in Russia. Panama qualifies for the tournament outright based on goal difference, while Honduras faces a two-legged playoff with Australia.
Jones' strike came 20 minutes after a mystifying own goal off Omar Gonzalez's mis-hit clearance. Christian Pulisic scored his seventh goal of qualifying early in the second half. But Adrian Foncette denied both Clint Dempsey and Benny Feilhaber good looks at an equalizer as an already eliminated T&T side played the ultimate spoiler.
Goals
- 17' - TRI - Omar Gonzalez (OG)
- 37' - TRI - Alvin Jones
- 47' - USA - Christian Pulisic
