SAN JOSE, Calif. — Malik Tillman scored twice because the United States constructed a three-goal, first-half lead and ended a four-game shedding streak by routing Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 on Sunday in a Concacaf Gold Cup opener.
Tillman scored within the Sixteenth and forty first minutes for his first two worldwide objectives, each following giveaways by Alvin Jones, and Patrick Agyemang scored his fourth worldwide purpose within the forty fourth.
Brenden Aaronson added his ninth purpose within the 82nd and Haji Wright his fifth simply 1 minute, 13 seconds later because the Sixteenth-ranked People overwhelmed the No. 100 Soca Warriors and ended their longest shedding streak since 2007.
Victory within the Group D opener got here after days of controversy over Christian Pulisic‘s desire to rest during the Gold Cup and coach Mauricio Pochettino not together with the star in a pair of pre-tournament friendlies by which the attacker supplied to play.
The U.S. had 70.5% possession and a 21-3 benefit in pictures towards the Soca Warriors, whose 2-1 dwelling win towards the People in 2017 ended a streak of seven straight World Cup appearances by the U.S.
The People have received their group in 16 of 17 Gold Cups, together with a second-place end behind Panama in 2011, and improved their group stage document to 41 wins, 1 loss and 5 attracts. They play invited visitor Saudi Arabia on Thursday in Austin, Texas, then shut group play on June 22 towards Haiti in Arlington, Texas.
Matthew Freese was in purpose in place Matt Turner, who had began 14 consecutive aggressive matches for the U.S. and 23 of 24 courting to the 2022 World Cup. The lone exception was a Gold Cup group stage sport towards St. Kitts and Nevis in 2023.
Lacking Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, Giovanni Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest, the U.S. beginning lineup averaged 14.8 worldwide appearances. That was the second fewest for the People in a Gold Cup opener behind 9.8 towards Bermuda in 2009, in line with Opta.
Adams (turf toe), Johnny Cardoso and Damion Downs (each sickness) did not costume.
Defender Tim Ream began, extending his Gold Cup span for the U.S. to 14 years and surpassing DaMarcus Beasley (2002-15) for the American excessive.
Trinidad, coached by former star Dwight Yorke, has misplaced 4 of its previous 5 video games.