USA inch closer to Qatar after workmanlike win over El Salvador

Antonee Robinson broke through a freeze in the air and the US offense, scoring a big goal in the 52nd minute that lifted the Americans over El Salvador 1-0 on Thursday night and kept them on track for a return to the World Cup.

The narrow victory on a 29F night that tied the record low temperature for a home American qualifier boosted the US to 18 points with five games left.

The US have two more chilly matchups in the next week and can move to the verge of a berth with victories on Sunday against Canada in Hamilton, Ontario, and Wednesday against Honduras at St Paul, Minnesota. The final three qualifiers are in March.

Canada remained top with 19 points after their 2-0 win over Honduras on Thursday night, Mexico have 17 points after beating Jamaica 2-1, and Panama have 14 followed by Costa Rica with nine. El Salvador are left with six and have virtually no chance to reach this year’s tournament in Qatar.

The top three nations qualify, and the fourth-place team advances to a playoff against the Oceania champion, likely New Zealand. Winning home games is a key, and the Americans have won four of five matches on US soil, stumbling only in a draw against Canada in September.

Robinson scored after Weston McKennie played a long ball down the right flank to Tim Weah, who let it bounce three times as he ran past Roberto Domínguez and Eduardo Vigil.

Goalkeeper Mario González made a sliding block, and the ball rebounded to Jesús Ferreira. He headed it across the goalmouth and Christian Pulisic let the ball bounce past him to Robinson, who kicked it in with his left foot from eight yards for his second international goal. Robinson did a forward flip and a backflip to celebrate, adding to the backflip he performed after scoring the