Canada on the brink of World Cup qualification, US ice Honduras in big chill

LOS ANGELES: Canada moved to the brink of their first World Cup finals appearance in 36 years on Wednesday (Feb 2) with a 2-0 win over El Salvador as the United States reignited their qualification campaign with victory against Honduras.

Second-half goals from Atiba Hutchinson and Jonathan David gave Canada a deserved victory in San Salvador, and left them leading the CONCACAF qualifying standings with 25 points from 11 games.

Although their qualification for Qatar is not mathematically certain, it would require a freak sequence of results for Canada to fail to qualify for their first World Cup since the 1986 finals in Mexico.

The Canadians lead the standings by four points with three games remaining, all to be played next month. A win over Costa Rica in their next game on Mar 24 would seal Canada's place in Qatar.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, the US cruised to a 3-0 win over Honduras in a game played in sub-zero temperatures in St Paul, Minnesota.

Two Honduras players were substituted at half-time due to the extreme weather conditions at Allianz Field.

Players from both teams took to the field with multiple layers of clothing, with some opting for balaclavas in addition to gloves and thermal jerseys.

Jamaican referee Oshane Nation also wore a balaclava and gloves throughout.

US coach Gregg Berhalter defended the decision to play in St Paul, where temperatures for the evening kick-off plunged to around -16 degrees Celsius.

"We provided Honduras and their staff and the referees with warm weather gear, we provided them with headgear, and trying to make it a safe environment for them to play," Berhalter said.

"When we go down to those countries and it's 90 degrees and it's unbearable humidity and guys are getting dehydrated and cramping