COLUMBUS, Ohio — Antonee Robinson’s goal early in the second half Thursday lifted the U.S. to a 1-0 victory over El Salvador, moving the Americans a big step closer to returning to the World Cup this fall in Qatar.
With five games remaining in the eight-team CONCACAF tournament the U.S. (5-1-3) is second, a point behind unbeaten Canada, which was leading Honduras at halftime of its game. The top three teams advance directly to the World Cup, a tournament the U.S. missed four years ago.
Playing before a sellout crowd of 20,000 at a chilly Lower.com Field, the U.S. got the only goal it would need in the 52nd minute. And it was set up by a stout save from Salvadoran keeper Marlo González, who made a sliding stop of Tim Weah’s hard right-footed shot from the right edge of the six-yard box.
