U.S. avoids big upset at World Cup qualifier

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - Jozy Altidore started the comeback in the 77th minute and Frankie Hejduk scored the tying goal in the 88th as the United States rallied for a 2-2 draw at El Salvador in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday night.

Ranked just 106th in the world, El Salvador built a 2-0 lead against the No. 17 Americans before a boisterous crowd of 30,500 at Estadio Cuscatlan on goals by Eliseo Quintanilla in the 15th minute and Crisian Castillo in the 72nd.

Brian Ching had a chance to win it for the United States seven minutes into injury time but was stopped on an open bicycle kick by defender Mardoqueo Henriquez.

The United States (1-0-1), seeking its sixth straight World Cup berth, leads the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region with 4 points heading into Wednesday's qualifier at Nashville, Tenn., against Trinidad and Tobago (0-0-2), which rallied at home to tie Honduras (0-1-1) on Saturday.