BRIDGEVIEW, Ill., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- First-half goals by Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey Wednesday helped carry the United States to a 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Trinidad & Tobago.
Having recorded one-goal road victories over Cuba and Guatemala to open the semifinal phase of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, the Americans dominated Trinidad and all but clinched a spot in the six-team final round.
Bradley took an entry pass from Landon Donovan and had plenty of space to knock home the first goal in the 10th minute. Dempsey scored eight minutes later and Brian Ching added a goal in the 57th minute.
The United States has nine points with three games to play in Group 1. The top two teams from the four-team group advance to the final qualifying round. Team USA will next play Cuba Oct. 11 at a U.S. site yet to be determined.
Once the final six teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean are determined, they will play a double round-robin schedule in 2009. The top three teams from that competition will qualify for a trip to South Africa to take part in soccer's biggest show.
