Home in Chicago

The team left Havana bright and early this morning as Hurricane Ike closes in on Cuba. The entire group will certainly be following the weather reports as our new friends face potentially disastrous effects from the coming storm. A slowly rising sun followed the USA's team bus to airport, and most guys crashed out on the short flight to Miami. Another well-organized trip through Customs put the contingent back on the plane and wheels up for Chicago just 90 minutes after landing on U.S. soil. The coaching staff reviewed the DVD of last night's game while most players used the time to catch up on reading and sleep.

The weary travelers were satisfied with the professional performance that left the U.S. with six points after two road matches and sitting in the driver's seat heading into the first home qualifier of the semifinal round Wednesday against Trinidad & Tobago (read post-match quotes here). The Soca Warriors will be ruing the two points lost at home from their draw against Guatemala last night. The U.S. will take its five-match shutout streak in World Cup qualifying - the U.S. beat Panama 2-0 on Oct. 12, 2005 in the last match of qualifying for '06 - into Wednesday night's game against T&T at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.