USA vs. Belize: Last-Minute Predictions for Anticipated Clash

The United States Men’s National Team should be in top form for its opening Gold Cup contest against Belize Tuesday evening after dismantling Guatemala 6-0 in an international friendly Friday night.

While the 6-0 win was impressive, the most important aspect of the match was the return of Landon Donovan. The 31-year-old added to his record 49 goals with two more against the Guatemalan side, bringing his total to 51 with plenty of opportunities to increase that number in Gold Cup play.

Donovan still has to prove he can produce at that level on a consistent basis, but the USMNT should get a big boost from the attacking midfielder as it sets out for Gold Cup glory and a potential spot in the 2015 Confederations Cup, awarded to the winner of the tournament.

With group play already in full swing, the USMNT will be searching for a win against Belize and three points in the Group C tables. With a win on Tuesday, the United States will be perched atop the group with a solid foothold to repeat its recent success in the tournament.

Belize won’t make it easy, but the USMNT has reached the finals in each of the last three Gold Cup events, and should be poised for another big match Tuesday.

The United States Will Record Its Fourth-Straight Clean Sheet

The USMNT has been on a tear of late, recording three consecutive clean sheets at the tail end of its five-match winning streak. Look for that to continue Tuesday night.

The United States’ roster boasts plenty of experience from top to bottom, including the likes of Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard. With skill, leadership and experience on its side, the USMNT isn’t going to struggle.

Additionally, Belize has scored just one goal in its last five matches, and without a go-to attacker who can open things up in a pinch, Belize shouldn’t be expected to get the best of Howard between the posts.

As much as fans would like to see a competitive match, that likely won’t be the result of this contest. Look for the United States to record yet another clean sheet in a dominating victory Tuesday night.

Landon Donovan Will Prove He’s Officially Back

A lot has been made of Donovan’s absence from the USMNT for the last four-plus months, and while he certainly played well on Friday, some still expect the team’s all-time leading goalscorer to fade with additional playing time.

The fact of the matter is this: Donovan wouldn’t have returned if he wasn’t both prepared to play and passionate about representing his country.

Even at 31, Donovan showed fresh legs and the finishing ability that has made him the team’s best scorer for several years. And besides, this isn’t the World Cup. With all due respect to Belize, it simply doesn’t have the talent to stop the United States’ attack.

Look for Donovan to continue his impressive return to the team with an early goal on Tuesday, opening the action for a big U.S. victory.

Home-Field Advantage and a Three-Goal Victory

As if Belize wasn’t already up against it in its opening match, the team also has to travel to American soil for the contest.

The two sides will square off at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, Ore. in what should be a very comfortable affair for the Unites States. Without being asked to travel outside the country in preparation for the match, this contest should play out much as Friday’s match against Guatemala did with the USMNT looking poised and confident to kick off its Gold Cup campaign.

Anything is possible, but a Belize upset is highly unlikely. Expect the United States to jump out to an early lead and tack on two second-half goals to take this match 3-0 for three points and a Group C lead.