Bobby Wood earns a point for USMNT vs. Honduras

Bobby Wood does not want to miss out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

That became abundantly clear Tuesday when the second-half substitute scored in the 85th minute aginst Honduras to level the game 1-1. The USMNT ultimately held on to draw in the World Cup qualifier despite looking destined to drop its second consecutive game.

Wood entered the game in the 72nd minute after controversially being relegated to the bench for Jordan Morris, and he immediately made an impact.

Honduras forward Romell Quioto opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a right-footed shot bending into the bottom right corner. For a while, it looked like that goal would be the difference, but Wood prevailed to give USMNT fans hope.

It was Wood's first international goal of the year, and it couldn't have come at a better time. The USMNT was staring at fourth place in the table before Wood's goal, meaning they would have been in position to possibly miss the World Cup.

The top three teams in the hexagonal automatically qualify for the World Cup (Mexico has already punched its ticket) with the fourth team forced to compete in a playoff. The USMNT remained third in the standings (tied in points but ahead of Honduras in goal differential) after Tuesday's draw.

Jozy Altidore missed the game while serving a one-game suspension after picking up his second yellow card against Costa Rica. He will be back on Oct. 6 when the USMNT plays Panama.

Christian Pulisic had become something of an American soccer savior earlier this year with consistently excellent form for club (Borussia Dortmund) and country. But he has been held in check during the last two World Cup qualifying matches.

With just two games to go in qualifying (against Panama and Trinidad & Tobago), the USMNT needs to find its form in a hurry.