Gold Cup Recap: United States 6 - Trinidad & Tobago 0

The US book their ticket to the knockout stage while securing the top spot in Group A!

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Soccer

B.J. Callaghan and the United States Men’s National Team returned to action Sunday evening as they looked to book their ticket to the knockout stage of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Prior to Sunday’s match, the federation announced that Alan Soñora had suffered a right hamstring strain and would not be available for the match. Aidan Morris also received permission to depart early due to personal reasons.

There were two changes from the 6-0 victory over St Kitts & Nevis. Matt Turner returned in goal as DeJuan Jones, Jalen Neal, Miles Robinson, and Bryan Reynolds formed the back line. Djordje Mihailovic, James Sands, and Gianluca Busio comprised the midfield as Cristian Roldan, Jesús Ferreira, and Alejandro Zendejas provided the attack.

Roldan tried to get the U.S. offense rolling in the 15th minute as he looked to send a ball centrally, but it deflected off a defender. Luckily for Roldan, Jones ran onto the ball and drove toward the goal line. Jones cut the ball back to Ferreira, who quickly turned and slotted the ball in the back of the net to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead. The assist on Ferreira’s goal marked Jones’ first assist with the USMNT.

The United States offense was resilient in the 38th minute as Milhailovic passed the ball to Zendejas on the left flank. Zendejas attempted to curl the ball centrally, but it found a sea of white and blue jerseys as the ball eventually pinballed to Ferreira. The striker turned and unleashed a shot that deflected off a defender and into the net as the U.S. took a 2-0 lead.

The U.S. was awarded a golden opportunity in first-half stoppage time as Alvin Jones fouled Milhailovic inside the box. To no surprise, Ferreira stepped up to the spot as the FC Dallas striker looked to notch his second-consecutive hat trick. Ferreira slotted the penalty kick to the left side of the goal as the keeper dove in the opposite direction.

Ferreira’s penalty etched his name into the U.S. soccer history books as he became the first USMNT player to notch back-to-back hat tricks. Ferreira also finds himself tied with Landon Donovan for most USMNT hat tricks with three.

Former New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner came up big for the U.S. in the 56th minute as a Trinidad and Tobago fast break led to Levi García attempting to find the back of the net. Turner was all over the shot as he made the save.

After securing his first assist earlier in the match, Jones looked to notch his first international goal as he drove into the box in the 58th minute. An unfortunate touch led to Jones scuffing the shot way wide of goal and out for a goal kick.

Jones should have notched a second assist in the 60th minute as he drove down the left flank and crossed the ball centrally. Jones’ cross found Ferreira yards out from goal but his header somehow trailed wide.

A double substitution came in the 61st minute as Cade Cowell and Julian Gressel came on for Roldan and Zendejas. Cowell was alert in the 65th minute as a bad back pass led to the San Jose striker running onto the ball and finding himself one-on-one with the keeper. Cowell shook off the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net to notch his first senior international goal as the U.S. took a 4-0 lead.

Brandon Vázquez entered the match in the 70th minute as he came on for Mihailovic. Callaghan’s final change came in the 77th minute as DeAndre Yedlin came on for Reynolds.

Hometown boy Gianluca Busio got himself on the scoresheet in the 79th minute as Julian Gressel slotted the ball back to Busio, who drilled the ball into the net to notch his first international goal. Vázquez added one more goal to the United States’ tally in the closing seconds of stoppage time as a through ball from Cowell found Vázquez alone in the box. Vázquez curled a shot around the keeper and into the net as the U.S. secured a dominant 6-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago.

Former Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner also etched his name into the history books as he became the fastest goalkeeper to notch 20 clean sheets as the Arsenal keeper reached the 20-mark in just 30 caps for the USMNT.

Sunday’s victory not only secured the U.S. a spot in the Gold Cup knockout stage but awarded them the top spot in Group A. The U.S. will get some rest as the Quarterfinal match will take place on July 9th at 9:00 PM ET.