TAMPA -- It was anything but pretty, but the U.S. national team managed to do what it needed to Friday night at rain-soaked Raymond James Stadium, beating overmatched Antigua and Barbuda 3-1 to open its 18-month World Cup qualifying marathon with three vital points.
For a look at what the U.S. gained from their result on Friday, you must be an ESPN Insider.
Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine. He has covered American and international soccer since 2002.
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U.S. National Soccer Team Blog
We're your regular source for all the inside info on the U.S. national team. Whether it's breakdowns of player pool developments, news and notes from the club soccer world and its impact on the American side, or game coverage, we'll bring you consistent, exclusive access and insight. Contact us with comments and tips at ESPNUSSoccerblog@gmail.com.
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Doug McIntyre
Doug McIntyre has watched or attended almost every U.S. national team game since Paul Caligiuri's "shot heard 'round the world" in 1989. He is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and has covered American and international soccer since 2002.
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