06/15/25 07:08:00
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06/15 19:07 CDT US ends 4-game losing streak, routs Trinidad 5-0 in Gold Cup
opener as Malik Tillman scores twice
US ends 4-game losing streak, routs Trinidad 5-0 in Gold Cup opener as Malik
Tillman scores twice
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) --- Malik Tillman scored twice as the United States built
a three-goal, first-half lead and ended a four-game losing streak by routing
Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 on Sunday in a CONCACAF God Cup opener.
Tillman scored in the 16th and 41st minutes for his first two international
goals, both following giveaways by Alvin Jones, and Patrick Agyemang scored his
fourth international goal in the 44th.
Brenden Aaronson added his ninth goal in the 82nd and Haji Wright his fifth
just 1 minute, 13 seconds later as the 16th-ranked Americans overwhelmed the
No. 100 Soca Warriors and ended their longest losing streak since 2007.
Victory in the Group D opener came after days of controversy over Christian
Pulisic's desire to rest during the Gold Cup and coach Mauricio Pochettino not
including the star in a pair of pre-tournament friendlies the attacker offered
to play in.
The U.S. had 70.5% possession and a 21-3 advantage in shots against the Soca
Warriors, whose 2-1 home win against the Americans in 2017 ended a streak of
seven straight World Cup appearances by the U.S.
The Americans have won their group in 16 of 17 Gold Cups, along with a
second-place finish behind Panama in 2011, and improved their group stage
record to 41 wins, one loss and five draws. They play invited guest Saudi
Arabia on Thursday at Austin, Texas, then close group play on June 22 against
Haiti at Arlington, Texas.
Matt Freese was in goal in place Matt Turner, who had started 14 consecutive
competitive matches for the U.S. and 23 of 24 dating to the 2022 World Cup. The
lone exception was a Gold Cup group stage game against St. Kitts and Nevis in
2023.
Missing Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Antonee
Robinson, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun and Sergio Dest, the U.S. starting
lineup averaged 14.8 international appearances. That was the second-fewest for
the Americans in a Gold Cup opener behind 9.8 against Bermuda in 2009,
according to Opta.
Adams (turf toe), Johnny Cardoso and Damion Downs (both illness) didn't dress.
Defender Tim Ream started, extending his Gold Cup span for the U.S. to 14 years
and surpassing DaMarcus Beasley (2002-15) for the American high.
Trinidad, coached by former star Dwight Yorke, has lost four of its last five
games.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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