The United States opened play in Group A of the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament play Tuesday with a 3-0 victory over El Salvador in Heredia, Costa Rica.
Ryan Soroka and Preston Zimmerman each had a goal and an assist for John Hackworth's squad. Soroka got the U.S. on the board in the 17th minute, and Kyle Nakazawa padded the lead 11 minutes later. Zimmerman put the game out of reach in the 86th minute with a goal for the Americans, who faced heavy pressure from the Salvadorans in the second half.
The win increased the Americans' unbeaten streak in CONCACAF qualifying to 14 games. They will face Cuba in their next match on Thursday. Costa Rica beat Cuba, 3-0, in the second game.
April 12 in Heredia
USA 3 El Salvador 0. Goals; Soroka 17, Nakazawa 28, Zimmerman 86.
USA — Rueckner, Alston, Sarkodie, Lichaj, Igwe, Hall (Wagner, 88), Nakazawa, Besagno (Borja, 62), Soroka, Zimmerman, Arvizu (Gonzalez, 74).
El Salvador — Villalobos, F.Flores, Turcios, Espinoza, J.Hernandez, Gayton, Alvarez, J.O. Flores, Serrano (Monico, 64), Vasquez (J.N. Hernandez, 46), Escobar.
Referee: Elmar Rodas (Guatemala).