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CONCACAF round-up: Christian Pulisic nets double as USA go into automatic qualifying spot

COMMERCE CITY, CO - JUNE 08:  Christian Pulisic #10 of the U.S. National Team celebrates scoring a goal against Trinidad & Tabago in the second half during
Image: Christian Pulisic netted twice for the USA in their CONCACAF match

Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic scored twice as the United States grabbed a vital 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday.

The 18-year-old slid home a close-range finish from DeAndre Yedlin's low cross in the 52nd minute to give the Americans the lead in their CONCACAF qualifying battle.

He then bagged his seventh goal in only his 15th international appearance to make it 2-0 after 62 minutes, latching on to Jozy Altidore's perfect through ball before whipping a low finish in at the near post.

The win lifted the USA into the automatic qualifying positions with seven points from five games and gives Bruce Arena's side a boost as they prepare for a daunting away assignment against leaders Mexico on Sunday.

In other CONCACAF games on Thursday, Mexico extended their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 3-0 win over Honduras at the Azteca Stadium.

Oswaldo Alanis glanced in an angled header to open the scoring for the hosts before two second half goals in three minutes from Hirving Lozano and Raul Jimenez made the points safe.

Costa Rica were also frustrated in a 0-0 draw with Panama in San Jose.

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The result leaves 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists Costa Rica second in the standings with eight points from five games, one point ahead of the United States in third, while Panama are fourth with six points.

The top three teams in the standings qualify automatically for the World Cup finals in Russia while the fourth place team faces a play-off against a team from Asia.

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