PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad - Eddie Johnson knows this type of personal success probably won't last.

Johnson scored a goal in his fourth straight game to put the United States ahead against Trinidad and Tobago, Eddie Lewis boosted the lead early in the second half and Kasey Keller made some great saves in a 2-1 victory Wednesday in the opener of the final round of World Cup qualifying.

"He's still a little bit inexperienced, but there's so many good qualities: size, strength, ability to take people on, speed, ability to hold the ball," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said of the 20-year-old Johnson.

"Bruce told me it's only going to get harder," Johnson said. "I'm not going to score a goal in every game. It was tougher."

Less than three weeks ago, the Americans didn't even know if they would have their top players or would send a team of minor leaguers because of a labor dispute. But an interim settlement ensured the regulars would be on the field through 2005, and the 11th-ranked U.S. team imposed its will on No. 61 Trinidad and Tobago until tiring in the final minutes.

"It's massive," Keller said, "especially with all the drama that's gone on around the team. The guys came together and got a great victory."

Until Angus Eve scored in the 89th minute on a cross that went in off Keller's hand, the home team didn't have much to cheer for. The United States, which plays its next qualifier at Mexico on March 27, is 23-0-7 against North and Central American and Caribbean rivals since a September 2001 loss at Costa Rica. The Americans haven't lost to a Caribbean opponent since a 1994 defeat in Trinidad.

"There were a bunch of reasons why we couldn't be successful today," Arena said. "We never agreed with that. I think the way our team pulled together over the last couple of weeks to be ready to play this game under difficult conditions - travel, field conditions, the heat, everything else - it turns out to be a fantastic result."

In the region's other qualifiers, Mexico won 2-1 at Costa Rica as Juan Lozano scored in the eighth and ninth minutes and Guatemala and Panama played a 0-0 tie in Panama City.

Ash Wednesday usually is a beach day in this Caribbean nation, where the Carnival celebration that ends the previous night is huge. But the steel and samba drums were sounding for the Soca Warriors in the searing 90-degree heat at the Queen's Park Oval, with T&T hoping to continue the celebration and exact revenge for the November 1989 loss to the Americans that denied it a berth at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Johnson struck in the 30th minute, just as Paul Caligiuri did 15 years ago in the famous qualifier at nearby Hasley Crawford Stadium, a game that put the United States in soccer's top event for the first time since 1950.

Coming down the right flank of the 80-yard-wide field, Steve Cherunoldo crossed the ball into the penalty area and Johnson, with no defenders close on the near post, headed the ball into the net from 12 yards out. Goalkeeper Neil Shaka Hislop had no chance.

Johnson has six goals in just four international appearances and became the first player to score in each of his first four games with the U.S. national team. He matched William Looby (1955) and Brian McBride (2001) as the only player to score in four straight games, and his six goals in qualifying already tied Willy Roy for third on the career scoring list in qualifying behind Earnie Stewart (nine) and McBride (seven).

"It's about taking advantage of the chances you get," Johnson said. "I didn't get many chances today."

Keller, who had a 23-hour journey from Germany on Monday to get to the game, made a sliding save on Leslie Fitzpatrick on a breakaway eight minutes into the second half. One minute later, Johnson passed the ball to Landon Donovan, who gave it to Lewis for a left-footed shot from about 23 yards out that easily went in.

"We told our guys we've got to get the second goal," Arena said. "We got it."