The U.S. Men’s National Team takes on Canada on Sunday in the decisive Group B finale at the Concacaf Gold Cup (5:15 ET, FOX/Univision), and the Americans will be searching for a win to secure first place in the group.
Standing in the way is a tough Canada side that posted a pair of 4-1 victories in its first two group-stage matches, with Cyle Larin and Tajon Buchanan leading the attack.
Canada can secure first place in the group with a win or a draw, with the winner of the group presumably able to avoid facing Mexico until the final (though Mexico’s own path to a potential fan has yet to be determined, and El Tri must defeat El Salvador to win Group A).
The Americans will be trotting out a 5-3-2 formation, with Gyasi Zardes and Daryl Dike partnering up top, and youngsters James Sands and Gianluca Busio earning the starting nods after impressing in their recent performances:
The SBI editorial staff will be providing live commentary during the match in the comments section below, so feel free to join the conversation and share your own thoughts and opinions.
Enjoy the action:
Final: USMNT 1 – Canada 0. Shaq Moore’s winning goal 0:20 into the match is all the Americans need to win Group B. Strong defensive performance, but definitely a lot to clean up going forward. The USMNT now gets a week off before returning to action either July 24 or 25.
Oh thats good news with the 1 week off. We might get Zimmerman back
It feels like got sent back in time and I’m watching a game from the late 90s where neither team can complete three passes in a row and just fouls each to death. It’s concacaf but this game reminded me of late 90s concacaf games. It’s was brutal to watch.
IKR. Definitely not the beautiful game – 90 minutes I’ll never get back.
Canada was much better than that.
Canada was horrible out there. I saw the same thing. I never felt threaten by Canada attack.
Miles Robinson does extremely well to shoulder Buchanan away from the ball there. Goal kick USMNT.
thought he was excellent and matched up with Buchanon and his speed and physicality, and Miles made positive plays both ways. losing Zimmermann sucks but Robinson stepped up, Sands too. Pines single handedly almost gave it all away more than once but settled enough and teammates rallied. old school usmnt defensive grinder
As we head into stoppage time, who is your pick for Man of the Match today?
Not sure anyone’s stock went up today
Dike running around in obvious pain, hanging his shoulder down. Hopefully it is nothing serious for the Orlando City striker.
James Sands was down holding his leg. Would be a major blow for USMNT as he has performed better as the group stage has gone on.
Canada continuing to work the ball around with ease, but USMNT staying firm in the back.
Matthew Hoppe wins a foul from Osorio to take some of the air of the match. Smart play from the 19-year-old.
Tajon Buchanan curls his shot wide, but Matt Turner was beat. USMNT need to try and lock him up with 10+ minutes left to play.
The game has been begging for an ounce of…. creativity… dynamism… someone who can dribble, advance the ball, break down a defense, make a critical pass. Williamson and Hoppe for Acosta/Zardes seemed the glaringly obvious choice but……….
75th minute – Cristian Roldan, Jackson Yueill and Matthew Hoppe enter for Kellyn Acosta, Gianluca Busio and Gyasi Zardes. The USMNT needed to freshen things up, the midfield had looked pretty flat in the 2nd half.
Still 1-0 USA, 75th minute.
Way too much side passing vanilla in this midfield w/ no ability to make something happen. Roldan and Yueill are more of the same with fresh legs..
Hot garbage all around. Pines is a disaster waiting to happen. If I’m Canada manager I’m screaming press him hard each pass that goes to him. Is Acosta sitting in a foldable chair somewhere he’s keeps moving out of tv frame? Zardes huh need I say more?
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Vines is a positive and also Sands.
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Was looking forward to more from this game.
Pines was a headscratcher of an inclusion. Him and Lewis have both shown they weren’t worth the gamble.
agree with all of it. Yueill now in
Mark-Anthony Kaye and Tyler Pasher coming on for Canada. Junior Hoilett and Samuel Piette are off.
Canada is constantly putting pressure on the USMNT backline. The USMNT needs to do a better job of holding onto possession and working the ball around. Are there any other subs you hope Gregg Berhalter will make?
Hoppe coming in, I like that one
Crepeau does well to claim that cross before Daryl Dike can muscle it into the goal.
Buchanan brings down Sam Vines and the USMNT has a dangerous cross coming up on left wing.
58th minute- Reggie Cannon replaces Shaq Moore. Good shift for Moore.
Donovan Pines is struggling in the second half. Berhalter may need to pull him.
Shaq Moore is coming off. Reggie Cannon is back from injury and coming on. What did you think of Moore’s outing?
Herdman has Canada doing some good things, like he did with the Canadian women. They flopped around all over as well as I recall while dishing it out hard. dives happen, but the constant falling down and then screaming from Herdman…barf weak
his Canadian women gave out cheap fouls too
Lucas Cavallini coming on for Cyle Larin. Another injury for Canada it looks like.
Cyle Larin is down for Canada. Meanwhile for the USMNT, they have been shaky this second half. What subs do you want to see?
Buchanan races upfield and plays a ball for Laryea, Pines looks to have pushed him over, but no foul given.
Lletget hacked down by Fraser to put a break in the action. Overall, thoughts on Lletget so far today?
Now Sands with the error and Buchanan is denied by Turner. Shaky start for USMNT this half.
An early error from Donovan Pines almost sees Cyle Larin equalize, but the forward mis-hits his attempt and Turner makes his first save of the match.
No changes for either team at halftime. Do you expect more from the USMNT attack? Can they silence Canada?
Busio not ready for defensive physicality of playing #6. Positioning Sands in a hybrid role compensates for Busio tactically.
It looks like Zardes has improved hold-up play and distribution. His 1st touch previously was his biggest weakness.
Dike off the pace both ways. not mobile enough defensively and a hole in the pressure d Canada discovered as the half wore on. I’m cool with that work rate from him IF he wins balls played to him in the holdup and in transition, and he didn’t do those things either. we’ll see what happens here. Vines came up big 1v1 the last 5 minutes as we wilted, but Dike has to do better all facets. we’ll see and hope he does
Way too much empty space between the lines that last 20 minutes, Dike & Zardes having to drop into those areas.. Not their strength at all.. Wingbacks need to be higher or switch to 4-3-3
agree. time for Busio to come off, he is not present in those psaces anymore. Dike more physical at least
HALFTIME – USA 1, Canada 0.
Shaq Moore’s goal is the difference.
So do we see Williamson for Acosta? Maybe Gioacchini for Zardes?
Really impressed with James Sands. Berhalter has given him the freedom to set up in midfield when the USMNT is in possession, and Sands is handling the diverse role excellently.
Still 1-0 USA, 38th minute.
me too Ives. hungry for the ball in the spaces playing out, timely steps defensively, fast and quick, playing that role both ways
Looking so good the first 30 min! LFG!
Beautiful defensive intervention by Kamal Miller denies a Daryl Dike breakaway after a Canada mistake up the field.
Some nice combination play between Zardes and Dike at the start of that build-up.
24th minute- Jonathan Osorio has replaced Ayo Akinola, who left the match with an apparent injury.
Still 1-0 USA.
Donovan Pines replaced Walker Zimmerman, who had to leave the match with a knee injury. The injury occurred when Zimmerman and Laryea got tangled in the penalty area. Canada insisted a penalty should have been call, but replays showed that while Zimmerman did foul Laryea in the area, it was Laryea who grabbed Zimmerman just before that, which led to Zimmerman losing his balance as they both ran.
Good no-call there.
Big moment for Donovan Pines, who is a raw defender, but has a great chance to impress today.
DREAM start for the USMNT, and what a pass from Lletget to find Shaq Moore’s back-post run just 20 seconds into the match.
USA comes out FLYING.
1-0 USMNT, 1st Minute.
I’m calling it. Busio has a breakout game and Moore also has another great showing!
Is it me or Canada seems to be leaving a couple of people on the bench that some expected to start? I haven’t kept up
Canada made some changes to project players on yellow cards. Their focus is on the quarterfinals, at least to some degree.
I like the 5-3-2 to keep Canada honest on the wings. Why not play to strengths? The only real mild surprise is Moore over Cannon, but perhaps Cannon is not match fit yet. Busio, Moore and Sands have earned these starts during their GC performances.
45+2) Sam Vines has had a good first half, has made some important defensive plays, including the one he just made to keep it 1-0 USMNT .