CHICAGO (July 14, 2021)—After a hard-fought 1-0 win against Haiti to open the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, the U.S. Men’s National Team will face Martinique in its second group stage match on Thursday, July 15 in Kansas City, Kan. Depending on the result of the night’s first match between Canada and Haiti, a win could push the USMNT into the tournament’s knockout phase as one of the top two teams in Group B.
Coverage from Children’s Mercy Park begins at 9:30 p.m. ET on FS1, UniMás and TUDN, with kickoff to follow at 10 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the USMNT during the tournament on Twitter (@USMNT), Instagram (@USMNT), Facebook and the official U.S. Soccer App.
GOALKEEPERS (3): 22-Brad Guzan (Atlanta United; 64/0), 18-Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 9/0), 1-Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 2/0)
DEFENDERS (8): 21-George Bello (Atlanta United; 1/0), 2-Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR; 18/1), 20-Shaq Moore (Tenerife/ESP; 6/0), 4-Donovan Pines (D.C. United; 0/0), 12-Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 4/1), 16-James Sands (New York City FC; 1/0), 3-Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; 4/1), 5-Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 15/2)
MIDFIELDERS (6): 23-Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 32/2), 6-Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City; 1/0), 17-Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 25/7), 10-Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 20/0), 19-Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers; 1/0), 14-Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 13/0)
FORWARDS: (6): 7-Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 36/8), 11-Daryl Dike (Orlando City; 4/1), 8-Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen/FRA; 4/2), 13-Matthew Hoppe (Schalke/GER; 0/0), 15-Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; 8/2), 9-Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew; 57/12)
|
Date |
Opponent |
Venue |
Time (ET)/Result |
TV Info |
|
Sunday, July 11 |
Haiti |
Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kan. |
FS1, Univision, TUDN |
|
|
Thursday, July 15 |
Martinique |
Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kan. |
10 p.m. |
FS1, UniMás, TUDN |
|
Sunday, July 18 |
Canada |
Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kan. |
5 p.m. |
FOX, Univision, TUDN |
OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
The USMNT took the initiative from the opening kick against Haiti in its first Gold Cup match, creating a number of dangerous chances in the early going before a breakthrough in the eighth minute. Forward Gyasi Zardes teed up defender Sam Vines for a well-placed header and the left back’s first career international goal. While the U.S. had several opportunities for an equalizer, including a few attempts off the woodwork by Walker Zimmerman, Vines’ goal would prove to be the difference in the 1-0 win against Les Grenadiers.
The assist on Vines’ goal marked the 10th of Zardes’ career, making him the second-fastest USMNT player to record double-digit goals and assists. The 12th USMNT player to reach the milestone, Zardes got there in 57 caps, coming in behind only U.S. legend Landon Donovan. The 29-year-old forward joins the likes of Cobi Jones, Clint Dempsey, USMNT General Manager Brian McBride and U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Earnie Stewart in the 10 & 10 Club.
Three players made their USMNT debut in the shutout against Haiti: midfielders Gianluca Busio and Eryk Williamson, as well as defender James Sands. A midfielder for Sporting Kansas City, Busio picked up his first cap to the tune of a roaring ovation from his home fans at Children’s Mercy Park. All three are products of the U.S. Youth National Team set-up and represented the USA at FIFA Youth World Cups before entering as second-half substitutes in the Gold Cup opener.
With Sunday night’s debuts, head coach Gregg Berhalter has given 45 players their USMNT debut through his first 30 games in charge, the most of any manager at this point in their tenure. Forward Matthew Hoppe and defender Donovan Pines could also join that list as the two remaining uncapped players on the Gold Cup roster.
In addition to the first caps, six more players made their first appearances for the USMNT in official competition. The three debutants, plus goalkeeper Matt Turner, defenders Shaq Moore, Miles Robinson and Sam Vines, midfielder Nicholas Gioacchini and forward Daryl Dike are all now officially cap-tied to the USA.
Back to the USMNT for the first time since November 2018, Moore’s on-field return came a bit sooner than anticipated when defender Reggie Cannon picked up a knock before Sunday night’s match. Moore found out he’d be replacing Cannon in the starting lineup just a few hours before kickoff, but seized the opportunity with an impressive performance, winning U.S. Soccer Insiders Man of the Match for his efforts.
EARLY LEAD NOT ENOUGH FOR MARTINIQUE
Held every two years, the Gold Cup is the regional championship for Concacaf, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football. Just like in the European Championships and Copa America, lifting the trophy brings prestige and regional supremacy. Over the course of 15 previous Gold Cup tournaments, the United States has lifted the trophy six times (1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017), just behind all-time leaders Mexico with eight (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019). Canada is the only other tournament champion, coming away with the title in 2000.
The top two teams in each of the four groups advance to the quarterfinals (July 24-25 in Arlington, Texas and Glendale, Ariz.). The semifinals are scheduled for July 29 in Austin and Houston, before the championship match on Aug. 1 in Las Vegas.
USA TOURNAMENT NOTES
Sebastian Lletget captained the USMNT for the first time vs. Haiti. The 28-year-old midfielder is the 12th different player to wear the armband under head coach Gregg Berhalter.
Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson partnered together in central defense for the first time vs. Haiti. It’s the 13th different central defensive pairing deployed under Berhalter.
Shaq Moore earned his first USMNT appearance since playing in the 1-0 friendly defeat to Italy on Nov. 20, 2018 in Genk, Belgium.
Zimmerman earned his first start since the 1-0 win against Costa Rica on Feb. 1, 2020.
Collecting the game-winning assist on Sunday, Gyasi Zardes also made his first USMNT appearance since the 1-0 win vs. Costa Rica on Feb. 1, 2020.
Turner (eligible to represent Lithuania), Moore (eligible to represent Trinidad and Tobago), Gioacchini (Italy and Jamaica), Busio (Italy) and Dike (Nigeria) became officially cap-tied to the USMNT with their appearances vs. Haiti.
Nineteen of the 23 players represent a total of 13 different clubs in Major League Soccer. Atlanta United and Colorado Rapids lead the way with three players each, followed by D.C. United, New York City FC (2 each); Columbus Crew, LA Galaxy, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, Orlando City SC, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City (1 each).
Defenders Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portugal) and Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain) and forwards Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen; France) and Matthew Hoppe (Schalke; Germany) make up the European-based contingent.
Gyasi Zardes’ team-leading 17 Gold Cup caps currently place him at 10th on the USMNT's all-time Gold Cup appearances list.
Since 2018, Zardes leads all U.S.-eligible players in MLS with 47 goals. The veteran striker also sits eighth all-time on the USMNT's Gold Cup scoring list with four goals.
Midfielder Cristian Roldan made his international debut during the 2017 Gold Cup, starting the team's 3-2 win against Martinique on July 12, 2017, in Tampa. The USA’s match against Martinique in this tournament comes three days after the four-year anniversary of that match.
Beginning with the inaugural title in 1991, the U.S. has lifted the Gold Cup on six occasions. The USA returned the trophy home in 2002 and won again in 2005, 2007, 2013 and 2017.
The USA has more wins in the Gold Cup than any other nation, going 62-9-9 all-time.
The U.S. has gone an impressive 36-1-4 during the group stage.
The USMNT has advanced to the final on 11 occasions: 1991, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2019.
The USA has made it to the semifinals in 14 out of 15 tournaments, missing out only in 2000.
The USA is 2-0-0 against Martinique all-time. Both meetings have come in the Gold Cup group stage.
The teams first squared off in Foxborough, Mass. during the 2003 tournament, when current USMNT general manager Brian McBride bagged a brace to propel the U.S. to a 2-0 victory and the top of Group C.
Goalkeeper Kasey Keller also notched his 31st career shutout, tying Tony Meola for the most in USMNT history.
The U.S. last faced Martinique in the 2017 group stage, a 3-2 win in which Cristian Roldan make his international debut. After taking a 2-0 lead, Les Matinino rallied to tie things up, but Zardes teed up Jordan Morris for a late goal, his second of the night, that proved to be the game-winner.
DEFENDERS (7): 6-Jean-Sylvain Babin (Sporting Gijón/ESP; 14/1), 18-Samuel Camille (Olympique Valence/FRA; 5/0), 21-Sébastien Crétinoir (Samaritaine; 63/3), 4-Gérald Dondon (Club Franciscain; 16/2), 2-Junior Michalet (Golden Lion; 1/0), 15-Yann Thimon (Golden Lion; 16/1), 8-Yordan Thimon (Club Franciscain; 9/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): 20-Stéphane Abaul (Club Franciscain; 57/9), 22-Romario Barthéléry (Golden Lion; 8/0), 14-Norman Grelet (Golden Lion; 2/0), 19-Daniel Hérelle (Samaritaine; 78/3), 3-Isaac Tresident (Club Colonial; 0/0), 5-Karl Vitulin (Samaritaine; 51/2)
FORWARDS (7): 17-Patrick Burner (Nîmes/FRA; 0/0), 10-Kévin Fortuné (Auxerre/FRA; 7/1), 13-Christophe Jougon (Club Franciscain; 26/1), 12-Johnny Marajo (Club Franciscain; 19/1), 7-Grégory Pastel (RC Rivière-Pilote; 17/3), 9-Enrick Reuperné (Aigion; 1/0), 11-Emmanuel Rivière (Crotone/ITA; 2/1)
Martinique qualified for the 2021 Gold Cup after finishing second in its Concacaf Nations League A group with an 0-1-3 record.
It’s the island’s third consecutive Gold Cup and seventh appearance overall. Martinique reached the tournament quarterfinals in 2002, the only time it’s advanced from the group stage. Overall, Martinique is 4-11-2 at the competition.
Martinique is an Overseas Department of France and not an independent country. As a result, the island is not recognized by FIFA and can only compete in Concacaf competitions.
Midfielder Daniel Hérelle’s 79 caps lead the team, while midfielder Stéphane Abaul’s nine international goals are the most of any player on the Gold Cup roster.
Eighteen players on the Martinique roster compete for six different clubs on the island, with the most, six, coming from Golden Lion.
Five players are based overseas in France (three) as well as Italy and Spain (one each).
Head coach Mario Bocaly has led Les Matinino since Dec. 2017. A native of Martinique, he’s coached for a number of clubs on his native island.