The U.S. men’s national team didn’t let a pair of friendly defeats stand in their way from an opening three points at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Malik Tillman scored his first two international goals while Patrick Agyemang, Brenden Aaronson, and Haji Wright all added goals in a 5-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago in San Jose on Sunday. The result marked the Americans’ second shutout victory of 2025 and their first in competitive play since November 14, 2024.
An early wave of USMNT pressure eventually led to Tillman’s first senior goal.
Jack McGlynn cut onto his left foot in the right side of the Trinidad & Tobago box before crossing to the back post. Tillman gathered possession before rifling home for a 1-0 USMNT lead.
Max Arfsten came close to netting his first senior goal off the restart but Marvin Phillip dove to his left to punch away the left back’s curling shot.
Diego Luna became the next USMNT attacker to come close to doubling the hosts lead in the 25th minute. McGlynn’s over-the-top pass found a streaking Luna upfield but Phillip denied the Real Salt Lake midfielder from close range.
An errant back pass from Alvin Jones eventually led to the USMNT’s second goal of the first half. Luna pounced on the pass before connecting with Tillman for an easy tap-in and a 2-0 USMNT lead.
Things got worse for the Soca Warriors right before halftime as the USMNT extended their lead to 3-0. Diego Luna’s shot deflected off of Agyemang and into the back of the net, continuing a busy day for the Americans.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese was called into action in the 58th minute, diving out to punch away Jay Fortune’s cross from finding Dante Sealy for a potential tap-in.
Brenden Aaronson added the USMNT’s fourth goal of the match after calling his own number in the 80th minute. Aaronson cut into the Trinidad & Tobago box before drilling a low shot past Phillip and into the back of the net.
Fellow substitute Haji Wright capped the final score at 5-0 after racing into the box off of the left wing and curling a shot into the far right corner.
Turner finished the match with a two-save clean sheet, his first in USMNT colors.
The USMNT will continue group stage play on Thursday against Saudi Arabia while Trinidad & Tobago faces Haiti.
the free kick service was better.
they will get smacked in a real game if they try and square a pass 30-40 yards sideways across the midfield like arfsten was doing sometimes. that would get picked off and taken downfield at track sprint speed.
they still need to anticipate the next pass or flick with runs.
i thought wright looked a lot better than agyemang at striker.
i thought the game in general benefitted freese richards tillman luna wright and mcglynn. people forget mcglynn was hitting passes all over the shop, the long distance pair to luna doing more tight space work.
freeman had an uneven day where got caught up but the blowout probably flatters him compared to harriel.
Grateful for the article, highlights and the SBI community’s reflections.
Unfortunately all the streaming I pay for doesn’t include a way fro me to watch the GC and I’ve used all my various emails for the FUBO free trials. If they are even still doing that. I refuse to subscribe to cable or pay $80 to watch this tournament. However….if most of the A squad was there…I may actually have did it. Another way this poor camp selection – whoever is to “blame” for it – has changed how the fan base is interacting with the team.
MooO,
Feel your frustration with the streaming situation. Fwiw, and you may already know this, but I believe the T&T game was and the Haiti game (next sunday) is on the main Fox channel, so you may be able to watch free over-the-air antenna. I’m nowhere near a big city and can get the major networks, of course I had to buy a $100 antenna and install in my attic lol. The Saudi game is on FS1 unfortunately.
I didn’t know there were still over the air signals! Maybe I’ll try fashioning something out of tinfoil or an old hanger…or both – lol.
On the flip side I’m kinda diggin’ the CWC which I really didn’t want to like. Watching LAFC and Seattle has been fun! They’ve been competitive! And…free! (only chance to see MLS teams since I’m sans Apple TV too – I know there’s some free games on there too).
10 minutes into the Boca v Benfica game it’s looking like a Copa match with ref not calling fouls and all the Argentine’s in Miami are out in full voice.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE FIRST WIN IN 5 GAMES!!! lol
But in all seriousness, when you do EXACTLY what you are SUPPOSE TO DO, very effectively and efficiently, against inferior competition…….this is the outcome, the game looks “easy”. This game looked flat out one sided because the USMNT dictated the tempo of the game and made it so (think about it, Dominican Republic was an inexperienced team, but they scored twice, on currently the best team in CONCACAF, Mexico).
Group D:
▪️ United States
▪️ Haiti
▪️ Trinidad and Tobago
▪️ Saudi Arabia
Watched the Saudi vs Haiti game…….and all I can say is that both games SHOULD be a walk in the park, with a REALISTIC minimum of 3 – 0 each lol (and that’s minimum)
While the opposition wasn’t much, we have failed to show up against weak teams in the past. After the first goal, Stu Holden noted the difference, the speed of play by the US. There was one sequence that, while it didn’t result in a goal, was a thing of beauty. It was maybe 25 minutes in, not very long after the first goal. T&T was pressing, but the US had some beautiful interchanges at midfield, with about 3 quick one touch passes and then an overlap to a streaking right back who broke toward the goal. We slowed down a bit later in the first half, but that is the way we need to play if we want to succeed, IMHO.
the difference between time and space on the ball and the opposite, which goes both ways of course
next
T&T went to bunker mode with a 5-4-1 lineup, which can result in a dull game. The positioning, pressing and passing by the US was much improved, even though it was much weaker opposition.
– With Cardoso out sick, Berhalter paired with LDLT in CDM and blended in pretty well with the tactics. Adams and Cardoso will be back. We’ll see how we does as the tournament progresses.
– Outside of one bad defensive gaffe, Freeman looked like he belonged out there. He didn’t make any noticeable overlap runs, but this was the first game.
– Damion Downs left off game day roster. Starting to think he is not up to the level of other strikers
To the SBI team, Turner was not the GK today
Paul Tenario said post match that Downs is also sick.
And that’s what a game against Trinidad should look like these days. Unless one of your players loses it kicks the ball into the stands and gets a red card.
Also this game doesn’t mean much. Trinidad was pretty bad.
JR
+TNT were bad but the USMNT were great at doing what they had to do. That does not always happen when you play such bad teams.
+I missed Gio. It would have been so ironic to see the shirts REYNA/ BERHALTER in a wall.
+It looks like Pochettino might not get fired.
+I know Max is not a good left back but he’s doing pretty okay out there. Can’t shoot worth a fuck though.
+Being in the right place at the right time is kind of like a disease you catch and Malik has caught it.
V: for The Crew he scores just enough of those that he thinks he should take them. But he probably shouldn’t.
-How about Agyemang not even celebrating the goal just letting Luna have his moment thinking he’d scored.
– I don’t know that S.Berhalter has first team quality but he does hit a nice set piece and has great timing on getting into the box. He had a couple times where he arrived at the right time but the shots were deflected.
JR
“-How about Agyemang not even celebrating the goal just letting Luna have his moment thinking he’d scored.”
+ Maybe Patrick didn’t even realize that the ball went in off of him, regardless Diego deserved his moment.
+ Sebastian may not be A team material but he did not hurt his chances at all. He and LDLT may be competing for the same spot; both flexible, busy little water carriers
+ The Saudis will be a challenge. Renard dresses as well as Pochettino. Fashion counts. Mauricio has a chance to get revenge for Argentina.
+ Haiti’s keeper looks like a right guard
Vacqui – “Renard dresses as well as Pochettino. Fashion counts”
Pochettino is not a mannequin.
Also, speaking as a former fashion industry insider (20 years in the biz between NYC and South Beach – in its hey day)…. Pochettino cannot hold a candle to Renard. He will lose every single time. Renard may possibly be the actual goat in this department.
That last post was all in good fun. I wasn’t trying to debate you on any of those silly points
MotO,
Renard was the guy I originally wanted after I got tired of Gregg’s sideline fashion sense.
Helluva manager. do not underestimate those guys.
Sorry, Luchi Gonzalez has much better fashion than Rennard. But technically he’s not managing currently I suppose.
V: i thought arfsten was meh. crosses meh. square sideways balls ill advised. can be got at on defense.
i want to see tolkin and freeman wide.
IV: I’m guessing they’re trying to give Tolkin some time to acclimate and gain fitness only being in camp for a week after a month of vacation. He was with the staff in January, but then left for Germany part way through. I think we’ll see Tolkin more going forward than Arfsten once Tolkin is fully fit.
Or if they come into the game and think all they have to do is show up, as in 2017. And T&T was missing their 2 best players that day. Has to be the worst loss in UJSMNT history.
Gary,
“Or if they come into the game and think all they have to do is show up, as in 2017.”
TNT are one of “those” teams for the USMNT, like Mexico or Ghana.
Couva I blame mostly on Arena.
When your manager’s attitude going into a game is obviously “This is just a formality” it’s pretty easy for the players to follow right along.
What was all.of that talk about being grouped at the Gold Cup? Good job lads. Get that confidence back up.
yikes…I hope there won’t be a “this didn’t age well” post beneath this in a few days. If there is I will partially blame you 😉
that was about half of tnt. so just a t. saudi will be tough and if haiti played them 1-0 that won’t be much easier.
and the question is when the contest becomes more even do we revert to same old tentative tactics. eg what made tillman look better is he’s box crashing crosses instead of trying to create from the top of the box like he’s pulisic or dest.