Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic scores as United States thrash Honduras 3:0 to give them a massive edge towards the Qatar World Cup Qualifiers which was played on Thursday January 4th, 2022.
With a win over Honduras on a night when some players were pulled at halftime due to the harsh cold, the United States moved closer to qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar.
Weston McKennie, Walker Zimmerman, and Christian Pulisic of Chelsea secured the victory in Minnesota, where temperatures plunged to -16 degrees Celsius.
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Some players donned balaclavas in addition to tights and gloves to keep warm, while Honduras reported two players had to be brought off “because to the harsh weather.”
Hernan Gomez, the visiting coach, made three half-time substitutions, two of which were stated to be due to the frigid temperatures.
Before the game, Gomez stated it was “inconceivable” to hold it in Minnesota, adding, “The game hasn’t started, but I can’t wait for it to end.” Because it’s not for pleasure, but for pain.”
US head coach Gregg Berhalter said the venue was chosen because his team had played in Hamilton, Canada on Sunday and the 930-mile trip to Minnesota’s state capital of Saint Paul cut travel time, and the USA had tried to create a “safe environment,” adding that the USA had tried to create a “safe environment.”
Criticism in the USA
According to US data, temperatures in Saint Paul reach an average low of -11C in February, with an average daily high of approximately freezing. The official USA team account uploaded a screen capture of the local temperature at 1F, or around -17C, at halftime.
At Allianz Field, fans were given hand warmers at their seats, and medical stations were put up throughout the venue.
Craig Burley, a former Premier League midfielder, stated on US television: “This is just another piece of the pitiful jigsaw.” The United States has a large population but a limited soccer culture. You back yourself if you are a player who wants to play in the best possible conditions.
“They don’t put a game on in a location where the weather, temps, and everything else that goes with playing your best at this time of year is terrible.” That’s a teeny-tiny mindset to have.”
“What I would say is that we supplied Honduras and their crew and the referees with warm weather gear, we provided them with headgear, and [tried] to make it a safe atmosphere for them to play,” Berhalter said when asked about the playing conditions.
“That’s the nature of our competition when we travel down to those places and it’s 90 degrees and horrible humidity, and guys are becoming dehydrated, cramping up, and getting heat exhaustion.”
“You know, you have to go by typical temps when you arrange a game and a site.”
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Canada on brink, Jimenez on target
With three games remaining, Berhalter’s team is in second place in Concacaf qualifying for teams from Central America, North America, and the Caribbean.
Three of the eight teams in the group will automatically qualify for the World Cup, with the fourth facing the winner of the Oceania qualifying tournament in a play-off.
After a 2-0 win over El Salvador, Canada is on the verge of making their first World Cup appearance since 1986, thanks to goals from Atiba Hutchinson and Jonathan David.
The Canadians, who are coached by Englishman John Herdman, have a four-point lead over the rest of the group.
With Raul Jimenez of Wolves on target in a 1-0 win over Panama, Mexico built up a four-point lead in third place, while Costa Rica kept their qualification chances alive with a 1-0 away win over Jamaica in Kingston.
