With Mexico’s loss in Kingston tonight, The United States has a clear claim as the best team in CONCACAF in this moment in time. A resounding 6-1 victory over Cuba was the right tonic for a team that seemed to be underperforming against inferior competition in CONCACAF. Bob Bradley did everything right tonight. Starting his most seasoned starting XI, getting DaMarcus Beasley’s confidence back up, and incorporating the three most exciting young American players in world cup qualifying.Jose Francisco Torres looked more comfortable than I had thought he would so early on with the US, and Freddy Adu combined with Jozy Altidore to score a goal. The future is now for the US.

For all of Coach Bradley’s critics, and I have been one of them, it is tough to argue with success. Mexico the great rival of the US is facing a struggle to the death to even make the Hexagaonal. With two matches remaining on the road, based on tonight’s flat effort, Honduras has the leg up on El Tri in Group two and Canada proved they could give EL Tri a match in Chiapas last month. Should Jamaica win its two remaining matches and Mexico only get a point in its final two it could come down to goal difference.

The United States along with Costa Rica have advanced to the hexagonal. The Ticos don’t have a full time coach yet and will present little challenge in the next round based on their current squad. The greatest challenge will come from the two teams that advance from Group 2, but right now the US looks stronger than all of them, thanks to Bob Bradley.