The USMNT got back on track against Trinidad & Tobago scoring five goals and notching a win for the first time in 2025. A turn around has to start somewhere and a solid 5-0 win is a good place for that to happen. It was a dominant win for the USA as Diego Luna and Max Arfsten both grabbed a pair of assists, Malik Tillman registered a brace, and Patrick Ageymeng scored for the fourth time this year. Ageymeng leading the team in scoring in 2025 is unexpected, but scoring goals for the national team will certainly help his confidence as it seems like he’ll be in the striker picture going forward.
In the end the match puts the USA at the top of their group ahead of taking on Saudi Arabia. The Green Falcons came out of their first game of the Gold Cup with a win against Haiti thanks to a 21st minute penalty. The rest of the match was fairly unremarkable as the team ceded possession and held their lead for the remaining 69 minutes. Haiti managed 13 shots so the defense was tested and held strong.
The USA should expect to be pressed as the Saudis try to create chances in transition. Manager Hervé Renard has extensive international experience and US Soccer fans will be familiar with his French women’s teams in the most recent Olympic and World Cup campaigns. He also managed Saudi Arabia the last time the USMNT faced them in a friendly before the 2022 World Cup.
In that game Renard didn’t seem as interested in possession as he was in keeping the USA from scoring. It worked and the result was a 0-0 draw. A similar result would be favorable for the visitors and keep them tied on points with the Americans at the top of the group with both Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago losing.
This will be yet another opportunity for the USA to take control of a game and break down an opponent. The question will be what version of the team shows up. The one that scored five goals against Trinidad or the one that lost a pair of friendlies in deflating and blunderous fashion.
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