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United States fails to qualify for World Cup after stunning defeat

United States fails to qualify for World Cup after stunning defeat
Posted at 7:09 PM, Oct 10, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-10 22:20:06-04

The United States Men's National Soccer Team missed out on an opportunity to clinch a spot in the 2018 World Cup by falling at Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 Tuesday night. 

Due to Panama and Honduras picking up victories Tuesday night, the United States was eliminated from World Cup contention. 

The 2018 World Cup will mark the first time since 1986 that the United States failed to qualify for the World Cup. 

The US entered Tuesday's match ranked No. 28 in the world. Trinidad and Tobago was ranked No. 99. And the United States was 12-1-2 in its last 15 matches against Trinidad and Tobago, dating back to 1994.

The United States entered Tuesday night in third place in the CONCACAF standings. The top three teams in the CONCACAF earned an automatic spot in the 2018 World Cup, with the fourth place nation able to play in a two-game series to earn a spot in the World Cup. 

The results of Tuesday meant the United States finished in fifth place. 

The United States trailed 2-0 in the first of Tuesday's match, but a Christian Pulisic goal pulled the US within a goal at 2-1. Later in the second, Clint Dempsey fired a shot off the post. A game-tying goal would have kept the US in World Cup contention, but the US came up empty looking for the equalizer.