The USA's 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday gave it a perfect start in the first half of Concacaf's semifinal round of qualifying and broke national team records for shutouts and consecutive World Cup qualifying wins.

Wednesday's win increased the USA's shutout streak to 551 minutes and marked its record sixth consecutive shutout. The streak began with a 0-0 tie with Argentina in a June 8 friendly in New Jersey.

It was also the USA's sixth straight World Cup qualifying win. Before the victory over T&T, the USA downed Cuba, Guatemala and Barbados (twice) in this qualifying campaign for South Africa 2010, and it won its last qualifier of the 2006 World Cup campaign, a 2-0 win over Panama.

"It's good to have gotten this round off to such a good start," said U.S. coach Bob Bradley.

The USA returns to action when the second leg of semifinal-round games kicks off on Oct. 11, when it hosts Cuba in Washington, D.C.

It travels to Trinidad & Tobago on Oct. 15 and wraps up semifinal round qualifying against Guatemala on Nov. 19 in Commerce City, Colo.