Bulls Abroad: Chris Gloster plays full 90 in USA U-17s 3-0 win over Honduras in CONCACAF U-17 Championship

The good news from the New York Red Bulls' perspective came with the USA Men's U-17 National Team's starting lineup for its opening game of the Classification Stage of the 2017 CONCACAF Men's U-17 Championship: RBNY Academy prospect Chris Gloster was back.

The next step in WCQ begins! Meet the U-17 #USMNT Starting XI for our first classification game.

vs. preview: https://t.co/HFdgIgkelq pic.twitter.com/HQD8IDnyH3

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) May 3, 2017

Gloster had been subbed out of the USA's group stage game against Mexico at half-time, after a bang to the head in the first half. He'd sat out the team's final group stage match, against El Salvador. But 10 days between games was clearly sufficient for the left-back to shake off the effects of the knock he took from El Tri. He played the full 90 minutes against Honduras.

It was an encouraging game for the USA. Honduras has looked a dangerous attacking team, but there were few scares at the Americans' end of the field as they cantered to a 3-0 win.

Captain Josh Sargent opened the scoring in the 26th minute, tapping in a free kick from Andrew Carleton after Honduras 'keeper Carlos Banegas badly misjudged a foray off his line and ended up having to draw a yellow card outside his area to stave off embarrassment.

Briefly, Honduras rallied. Danger-man Carlos Mejia got through the USA back-line shortly after Sargent scored, but the defense caught up and his cross was - just - cleared from danger. It was the last serious scare for the Americans, who proceeded to dominate the game.

As long as there was only one goal in it, Honduras had a chance, but another error from Banegas handed Ayo Akinola a too-good-to-miss chance - and the USA's lead was doubled in the 65th minute.

Sargent added the capper in the 82nd minute.

Technically, Group D of the Classification Stage is wide open: Honduras beat Cuba; the USA beat Honduras; Cuba and the USA have yet to play, but a win for Cuba would force the group into a three-way tie, which would be settled on goal difference.

But it is merely a technicality. Honduras beat Cuba 7-1; Cuba would need to beat the US by sufficient margin to turn-around its substantial goal difference deficit: a five-goal win. No team in the tournament has beaten the USA yet, and only Mexico has looked close to doing so. Cuba isn't going to beat the US by five goals.

Both the USA and Honduras will expect to confirmed as qualifiers for the 2017 U-17 World Cup after the US-Cuba match on May 5 is concluded. And, assuming the USA wins that game as expected, the Americans will move to the final of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship. (A Cuba win would, most likely, send Honduras to the final as the group winner.)