Gold Cup 2013 Schedule: Previews and Predictions for Friday's Matchups

The second day of games for the teams in Group B is where the fun really starts.

On Monday, the four teams started their quest for the CONCACAF Gold Cup with the first day of Group B play. El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago each scored two goals, but neither could score a third, and the match ended in a draw. Honduras handled Haiti with a 2-0 victory to earn three points.

El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago each need a victory on Friday, as those three points are going to be vital toward advancing to the quarterfinals. Trinidad and Tobago should be able to take care of Haiti, but El Salvador has a big test ahead, as it’s set to square off against Honduras.

So, how will Friday’s pair of matches play out? Will there by another draw or will two countries come away with victories? Are the standings going to be any clearer come Saturday? Here’s a preview of each Group B matchup scheduled for Friday with predictions that will answer the aforementioned questions.

Group Stage Schedule

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV	Stream
Fri., July 12	Trinidad and Tobago vs. Haiti	7 p.m.	Fox Soccer	Fox Soccer 2Go
Fri., July 12	Honduras vs. El Salvador	9:30 p.m.	Fox Soccer	Fox Soccer 2Go
Sat., July 13	USA vs. Cuba	3:30 p.m.	Fox Soccer	Fox Soccer 2Go
Sat., July 13	Costa Rica vs. Belize	6 p.m.	Fox Soccer	Fox Soccer 2Go
Sun., July 14	Panama vs. Canada	3:30 p.m.	Fox Soccer	Fox Soccer 2Go
Sun., July 14	Martinique vs. Mexico	6 p.m.	Fox Soccer	Fox Soccer 2Go
Mon., July 15	El Salvador vs. Haiti	7 p.m.	Fox Soccer	Fox Soccer 2Go
Mon., July 15	Honduras vs. Trinidad and Tobago	9:30 p.m.	Fox Soccer	Fox Soccer 2Go
Tues., July 16	Cuba vs. Belize	5:30 p.m.	Fox Soccer	Fox Soccer 2Go
Tues., July 16	USA vs. Costa Rica	8 p.m.	Fox Soccer	Fox Soccer 2Go

Trinidad and Tobago vs. Haiti

Kenwyne Jones and Keon Kelly Daniel were the two goal scorers for Trinidad and Tobago in its Gold Cup opener. The offense, though, needs to get more shots on net in order to win its first match of group play. The country only put 11 shots on goal against El Salvador, and luckily for it, two went in.

Haiti, on the other hand, had 17 shots on goal, but couldn’t get any past Donis Escober. The Haitians will need to focus on creating scoring opportunities if they’re going to bounce back in the standings and pick up their first points of the tournament. You can’t win matches if you don’t score goals. It’s simple.

In the fight for three points, the Trinbagonians are going to rely on Jones to score the goals necessary to come away with a victory. He’ll score a pair of goals, but Haiti will make it a match with a late goal. Unfortunately for the Haitians, they won’t be able to complete the comeback and will still be in the cellar of Group B.

Prediction: Trinidad and Tobago 2, Haiti 1

Honduras vs. El Salvador

Honduras didn’t do much on offense in its opener, but when the country did put shots on net, it tended to go in. Honduras scored a pair of goals on just six shots on goal. The Hondurans scored three minutes in and another after the 75-minute mark, but easily could’ve lost with all of the shots on goal they allowed to Haiti.

El Salvador played a solid game and showed that it wasn’t going to just lay down to Trinidad and Tobago after going down 1-0 at the 10-minute mark. The country bounced back with a pair of goals, but just couldn’t hang onto its lead. El Salvador can’t afford to lose out on another three points.

When the two countries take the field on Friday night, expect Honduras to come out firing shots El Salvador’s way. The Hondurans know they have to produce more shots if they’re going to end the night with six points and the Group B lead. El Salvador will answer, but Honduras will win on a goal in the 70th minute.

Prediction: Honduras 2, El Salvador 1