GOAL

The United States was missing a number of its longtime standbys for Friday's World Cup qualifier at St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but the result was the same as ever.

Powered by three goals in a 15-minute span toward the end of the first half, the Americans emerged with a 6-0 road win to put themselves on the verge of clinching a spot in the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

A Trinidad and Tobago win over Guatemala later Friday would put the U.S. through to the final six-team CONCACAF qualifying round. If that doesn't happen, the U.S. could clinch its spot with a win over T&T on Tuesday in Jacksonville, Fla.

That match figures to be more challenging than Friday's affair. Despite playing without the likes of Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Gyasi Zardes, the U.S. had little trouble finding the net or keeping its opponents out.

Bobby Wood opened the scoring in the 28th minute, with Matt Besler following four minutes later and immediately launching into a rocking-the-baby celebration to commemorate the birth of his son Parker this week.

Captain Jozy Altidore, back from a hamstring injury that kept him from the Copa America, extended the lead with a 43rd-minute penalty after Wood was brought down in the box, giving the U.S. a 3-0 edge at the half.

Jurgen Klinsmann brought on the veteran Sacha Kljestan and youngster Christian Pulisic for the final third of the game, and the pair accounted for the remaining U.S. goals. Pulisic struck in the 71st after a nice feed from Pulisic, with Kljestan finding the net in the 78th for his first national team goal in six years and Pulisic closing out the scoring two minutes into stoppage time.

St. Vincent twice had apparent goals called back due to offsides calls in the second half, leaving Brad Guzan with a clean sheet.