CONCACAF Gold Cup: USA beats Haiti to top group; Mexico draws with Costa Rica
Patrick Agyemang scored the winner in the 75th minute, and the United States overcame Matt Freese’s goalkeeping gaffe to beat Haiti 2-1 on Sunday night and win its CONCACAF Gold Cup group with a 3-0 record.
Malik Tillman put the U.S. ahead in the 10th minute with his third goal of the tournament. Still, Freese, who has displaced Matt Turner, highlighted the Americans’ goalkeeping issues a year ahead of the World Cup with a botched clearing attempt that led to Louicius Don Deedson’s 19th-minute goal.
After Tillman came close three times in the second half, Agyemang scored after taking a long pass from John Tolkin. Agyemang touched the ball past goalkeeper Johny Placide and slotted it into an open net for his fifth international goal and second of the tournament.
The U.S., which opened with victories over Trinidad and Tobago and invited guest Saudi Arabia, won its group for the 17th time in 18 Gold Cups. The Americans have 43 wins, one loss and five draws in group play, going 3-0 for the seventh time.
Using largely a B team in the tournament, the Americans advanced to a quarterfinal against Costa Rica next weekend.
Haiti finished third in Group D on goal difference ahead of Trinidad and Tobago, which was eliminated when it wasted a lead in a 1-1 draw against the Saudis.
ALSO READ: Haji Wright will miss rest of CONCACAF Gold Cup with Achilles injury
The Gold Cup is the last competitive test for the 16th-ranked Americans ahead of the World Cup. As co-hosts, the U.S., Mexico and Canada get automatic berths.
In front of a sparse crowd of 20,918 at the 80,000-seat home of the Dallas Cowboys, one of next year’s World Cup venues, Tillman scored when he headed the ball inside the far post from Brenden Aaronson’s cross.
Freese blundered when he took a back pass from Tim Ream and tried to play the ball to Tolkin with his left foot. The ball went straight to Don Deedson, who took a touch and scored inside the far post.
American midfielder Tyler Adams started after being slowed by turf toe, among four changes by coach Mauricio Pochettino, and got a yellow card for a late sliding tackle on Duckens Nazon about 25 seconds in.
Costa Rica holds Mexico to a draw
Mexico tied Costa Rica 0-0 on Sunday night to win Group A of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and will play Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals.
Mexico’s Santiago Giménez appeared to score on a bicycle kick in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, but the goal was disallowed by Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar following a video review.
Giménez appeared to be offside when Carlos Rodríguez lofted the ball into the penalty area following a free kick. Orlando Galo’s headed clearance attempt went in front of the goal to Giménez.
ALSO READ: Curacao holds Canada to a 1-1 draw; Honduras beats El Salvador
Mexico, unbeaten in 10 Gold Cup matches against Costa Rica, finished even with the Ticos at seven points but won the group on goal difference.
El Tri, which defeated the Dominican Republic and Suriname in their first two matches, will play Saudi Arabia next weekend, while the Costa Ricans will face the United States.
Costa Rica will be missing four regular starters. Forward Manfred Ugalde, who has three goals in the tournament, and midfielder Carlos Mora are suspended for yellow-card accumulation. Defender Ariel Lassiter has a fractured left hand, and forward Warren Madrigal a broken left leg.
