USMNT put past behind them as they avenge World Cup elimination against Trinidad & Tobago
The United States Men’s National Team put past them last year’s World Cup elimination after pounding Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 in the second game of their 2019 Gold Cup campaign. Although the score would indicate a dominant win, the USMNT looked disorganized and hoped to figure things out against the team that kept them out of the World Cup in Russia, Trinidad & Tobago.
From the start, the USMNT seemed like the more desperate team putting pressure on Trinidad & Tobago’s defense. The U.S had to be careful in part because Trinidad could make them pay with their counter attack. The USMNT had chances but failed to convert and open up the score. Their first clear chance came in the 38th minute, Gyasi Zardes played it in the middle towards Paul Arriola, where he tried the first touch on goal but Marvin Phillip covered the near post perfectly, denying the first goal for the U.S.
Two minutes later, in the 40th minute, a set piece led to goal; Cristian Pulisic’s shot attempt did a rebound off the defender’s wall, the U.S kept it alive for Pullisic to play it into the 18 yard box, Aaron Long beat his defender to header it in and put the U.S up 1-0 over Trinidad & Tobago.
The USMNT finished the first half dominating 66% of the possession, with nine shots with three on target. The only chance for Trinidad and Tobago came in on a counter attack in where Zack Steffen cleared it.
The USMNT looked like a completely different team in the second half, in fact, a much better team. The U.S created plays put them back into legitimate contenders for the Gold Cup. Arriola had a chance in the 52nd minute with a beautiful pass from the back but plays it wide of the goal.
The dominance continued in the 65th minute, Timothy Bradley crossed the ball to Nick Lima, he then centered it with a header for Zardes, to tap in for the 2-0. Four minutes later, Pullisic got the ball down the sideline and ran down the middle, giving it to Zardes close to the 18-yard box, where he sets up a curving shot around Phillip, making in 3-0 for the USMNT.
The USMNT never looked back, in 73rd minute Trinidad & Tobago lose the ball, USMNT stole it and caught their rival’s defense offline, finding Pulisic wide open to lead 4-0. Six minutes later, in the 79th minute, Jozy Altidore flicks the ball to Morris where he runs down the line to play into the center to Arriola for the 5-0. In the 90th minute, Aaron Long gets his second goal of the night after a deflection off the keeper, where he then headers in to end the game with a 6-0 win.
It was clear that this game meant more to the USMNT and now they will face Panama in the last game of the group stage, where the winner will determine the leader of the group before heading into quarterfinals of the Gold Cup.
