US plays to scoreless draw with Trinidad and Tobago

Gyasi Zardes’ open header hit the crossbar early in the second half and the United States finished with a 0-0 draw against Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup qualifying Tuesday in Port-of-Spain.

Zardes’ effort off of Jozy Altidore’s cross just 75 seconds into the half was perhaps the best chance for the Americans, who turned up the pressure against Trinidad after a lackluster first half.

After the first two games of semifinals in the North and Central American and Caribbean region, the United States and Trinidad both have four points, Guatemala has three and St. Vincent and the Grenadines none.

Qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia breaks until late March, when the Americans play Guatemala twice in a five-day span. After the final matches next September, the top two teams advance to the six-national regional finals.