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Gold Cup 2019: Latest Group Results, Tables and Schedule After Tuesday
June 19, 2019
The United States men's national team is finally ready to take center stage in the 2019 Gold Cup, with the USMNT getting its tournament started against Guyana.
Guyana doesn't present a stiff test to the U.S., but the matchup should allow coach Gregg Berhalter to build some momentum after back-to-back defeats to Jamaica and Venezuela in preparation for the Gold Cup.
Before the United States opposed Guyana at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago opened Group D.
Here's a look at how Tuesday's two matches played out.
Tuesday Results
Panama def. Trinidad and Tobago, 2-0
United States def. Guyana, 4-0
Wednesday Schedule
Cuba vs. Martinique, 8 p.m. ET (FS1)
Mexico vs. Canada, 10:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Full Gold Cup schedule is available at the tournament's official site
Standings
Group D
1. United States: 3 pts; +4 GD
2. Panama: 3 pts; +2 GD
3. Trinidad and Tobago: 0 pts; -2 GD
4. Guyana: 0 pts; -4 GD
Full group standings are available on the Gold Cup's official site
Recap
Panama 2, Trinidad and Tobago 0
Panama outclassed Trinidad and Tobago in a 2-0 victory to jump to the top of Group D.
Panama only had 49 percent of possession but finished with seven shots on target to Trinidad and Tobago's zero.
Trinidad and Tobago's defensive approach wasn't surprising. It sits 92nd in the most recent FIFA ranking and had two wins in eight matches since the start of 2018.
The plan worked through the first half, as Panama went scoreless in the opening 45 minutes. Eight minutes into the second half, though, Panama hit Trinidad and Tobago on the counterattack. Gabriel Torres passed to Armando Cooper in stride, and Cooper eluded goalkeeper Marvin Phillip before sliding the ball into an empty net.
Given how little Trinidad and Tobago generated in possession, that goal was probably enough on its own to seal the victory. Edgar Barcenas eliminated any doubt.
Phillip made a pair of saves but couldn't keep the second rebound away from the Real Oviedo winger. Phillip even got a touch to Barcenas' shot, yet it wasn't enough to keep the ball out of the net.
Given how much the United States is sputtering, Panama has a great chance of walking away with first place in Group D. Beating both Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago could be instrumental in making that happen, so Los Canaleros can check the latter off the list.
United States 4, Guyana 0
As expected, the United States rolled over Guyana but weren't perhaps as dominant as they could've been in a 4-0 win.
Tyler Boyd was the star performer, scoring in the 51st and 81st minutes and narrowly missing out on a hat trick late in the second half when he fired a shot into the side netting.
The 24-year-old officially opened his USMNT scoring account with a right-footed shot inside the far post.
Boyd's second was a little more difficult as he created just enough space from Guyana midfielder Elliott Bonos before beating Akel Clarke.
Paul Arriola and Gyasi Zardes also got in on the fun. Arriola delivered the opener in the 28th minute, while Zardes made it a 3-0 game in the 55th minute.
Boyd and Arriola were clear bright spots for the United States, and the USMNT never faced much drama. It was a solid start to the Gold Cup.
Having said that, it's telling about the team's position that supporters are looking for positives in a win against Guyana, a country that sits 177th in the FIFA ranking and has a fraction of the resources available to U.S. Soccer.
A workmanlike victory doesn't inspire a wealth of confidence when the United States is matched up against the best CONCACAF has to offer. Saturday's match against Trinidad and Tobago should continue that trend, leaving the final group-stage fixture against Panama as the true indicator of the USMNT's overall progress.