Ante Razov scores the Americans' fastest goal in a World Cup qualifying match in 12 years. (AP)

Razov got that chance just over a minute into the game when he took a long lead from Jeff Agoos and got behind the last defender. Razov beat goalkeeper Clayton Ince with a left-footed shot from about 10 yards out.

"The early goal obviously made things a lot easier for us," coach Bruce Arena said. "Jeff was under a little bit of pressure, and Ante made a good run. We caught them flat a little bit."

Although complete records were not immediately available, Razov's goal is the quickest since at least 1985. In 1989, Bruce Murray scored in the third minute of a qualifier against Guatemala in New Britain, Conn.

"We though maybe they would put their heads down a little bit. They didn't," Razov said. "They didn't crumble."

Neither did Razov when he was relegated to the bench of the U.S. team, backing up Joe-Max Moore and Brian McBride. Even when they were injured against Mexico in the first game of the regional finals, Arena bypassed Razov and brought in Josh Wolff and Clint Mathis.

Wolff and Mathis helped create both goals in the 2-0 victory over Mexico, the longtime power in the North and Central American and Caribbean region. But Wolff broke his foot in a Major League Soccer game on April 28, and then a week before the Jamaica game Mathis tore his anterior cruciate ligament and was lost for the rest of this year.

That meant Moore and McBride were back in the lineup against Jamaica on Saturday. But neither was impressive in the scoreless tie, and Arena decided for the Trinidad game to go with Razov and Jovan Kirovski.

"Ante and Jovan looked pretty good over the last week and a half," Arena said. "Joe-Max and Brian are going to be able to help us, but I think they're a little tight."

That gave Razov his second start of the regional finals. And he didn't wait long to show his appreciation.

"It's not really about making a statement. It's about making Bruce's life miserable with the decisions," he said. "I'm good friends with all of the forwards. Competition is a good thing for the team. It's Bruce's job to figure it out."