Gold Cup - Matchday 1 Review
An exciting start!
Below you will find a review of Matchday 1 along with updated standings for each group. As an FYI, anytime you see text bolded and underlined, it is a link to highlights, news stories for context, and anything you may find interesting. Lets get into it!
Group A
USA 1 - Jamaica 1
Goals: Jamaica (Lowe 13’), USA (Vazquez 88’)
Watch Highlights Here
This game had everything you would want for a tournament opener. Two teams with legitimate chances at the title including the hosts (USA) and a team with a very hyped roster coming into the competition (Jamaica). The Reggae Boyz came out of the gate flying and had the majority of good chances in the first half. A goal from Damion Lowe (only his third representing his country) off of a set piece deliver from newcomer Demarai Gray gave Jamaica an early 1-0 lead. Just 15 minutes later, they were awarded a penalty and Leon Bailey stepped up with an opportunity to give them a 2-0 lead less than a half hour into the game. USMNT keeper, and birthday boy, Matt Turner stood waiting.
Although it was his birthday, Turner decided it was better to give than to receive as he read Bailey’s PK all the way and made a huge stop! Despite the momentum from that stop, the US were not able to get anything going before the break. The subs from USMNT manage BJ Callaghan brought some new energy to the Stars & Stripes but it continued to feel as though the equalizer was not in sight. Just after the 80th minute, Brandon Vazquez entered the game and it officially cap-tied him to the USA. It did not take long for his presence to be felt as he scored the late equalizer!
Although Jamaica will happily take the point, they will feel as though this should have been 3 points to start the competition. Both of these teams will now look to get big wins against both Trinidad & Tobago and St. Kitts & Nevis in their continued battle to top Group A.
Trinidad & Tobago 3 - St. Kitts & Nevis 0
Goals: Trinidad & Tobago (Jones 43’, Fortune 65’, Ible (OG) 73’)
Watch Highlights Here
If you only caught the second half of this game, it probably looked like a lovely day for fútbol in Fort Lauderdale. The game was delayed due to massive rainfall during pregame that left the pitch completely waterlogged. From the first kick, you could see the frustration of the players as the ball would only travel a fraction that it would under better conditions. Needless to say the game started slow, and it was hard to get anything going. At the end of the first half, Alvin Jones gathered a ball beautifully with one touch off his chest to bury the first goal of the game for Trinidad & Tobago.
Everything continued to go the Soca Warriors way in the second half as Ajani Fortune picked the ball up outside of the box, made a few defenders miss and scored a fantastic goal. Shortly after having their would-be third goal called back, Trinidad & Tobago were able to gather another goal off of a wicked deflection and the 3-0 result would stand. This was a fantastic showing for Trinidad & Tobago against the Gold Cup newcomers and they will look to build on this momentum against their Caribbean counterparts (Jamaica) next.
Group B
Haiti 2 - Qatar 1
Goals: Haiti (Nazon 45’, Pierrot 90+7’), Qatar (Abdurisag 20’)
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With no clear favorite for 2nd place in this group, both Haiti and Qatar were looking for a fast start. Less than ideal pitch conditions were in play here as well (not water logged, just sod laid over turf at NRG stadium). Qatar opened the scoring with a beautiful finish off a mishandled ball by the Haitian keeper. Qatar looked to have the momentum going into the half before the Haitians won and converted a penalty right before the break.
The second half was tightly contested and there wasn’t much to separate the teams. A series of contested calls, VAR reviews, and pleas from fans and players alike were on the menu as the game got closer to the finish. Due to the delays, there was scheduled to be 9 minutes of added time and both teams were knocking on the door. In the 97th minute a ball was played over the top to Antoine from Haiti and he played a beautiful ball across the goal where Pierrot was waiting to bury the winning goal! Securing 3 points late will be a huge boost for Haiti as they face off against Mexico next for the top spot in Group B.
Mexico 4 - Honduras 0
Goals: Mexico (Romo 1’, 23’, Pineda 52’, Chavez 64’)
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It didn’t take long for El Tri to remind everyone (including their own fans) why they are still a force to be feared in Concacaf. They came out flying and took advantage of a disorganized Honduran defense to score less than 60 seconds into the game. Romo followed his opening goal up with a second goal unmarked at the back post to give Mexico an early 2-0 lead. To be honest, as a fan of Los Catrachos, I was fully expecting to see them throw in the towel and accept defeat - but what I saw from them actually gave me hope that they could still advance out of this group.
Due to the lack of full prep time for this team, including a cancelled friendly due to poor pitch conditions, it took the team some time to find what worked. As soon as they moved Alberth Elis to the left side, they looked like a different team and Mexico’s only answer was to foul him. Unfortunately for La H, they conceded an early goal in the second half off of a stunning goal from Orbelin Pineda and that sealed the game and Luis Chavez added another goal to officially put it out of reach just 12 minutes later. This performance gave El Tri players and fans a much needed confidence boost. It will be key for La H to put this result behind them, build on the positives, and get points against Qatar if they hope to advance from this group.
Group C
Martinique 2 - El Salvador 1
Goals: Martinique (Burner 11’, Fortune 16’), El Salvador (Tamacas 90+5’)
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El Salvador came into this game with confidence and had a great chance to score less than 60 seconds in. Despite that start, Martinique responded with a goal in the 11th minute and scored again just 5 minutes later to stun the Salvadorans - both of these goals came off of giveaways! Coming out of the break, Martinique handed El Salvador a lifeline after Jonathan Rivierez was sent off with a straight red card.
The rest of the second half, El Salvador was threatening, even scoring a would-be goal in the 66th minute but it was called back for offsides. La ES won a penalty in the 83rd minute to try to claw back but Jairo Enriquez was denied by Martinique’s keeper, Yannis Clementia, who had a stellar performance with 8 saves including that stop. El Salvador ended the game winning another penalty off a handball in the box with a few minutes left and Tamacas stepped up and buried it! What a start for Les Matinino and while it was a disappointing game for La ES, getting a goal back at the end could prove important.
Panama 2 - Costa Rica 1
Goals: Panama (Fajardo 23’, Barcenas 68’), Costa Rica (Suarez 90+1’)
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It was going to be important for Los Ticos to get a big result in this game to remind fans and pundits why they have dominated Central America recently, and unfortunately for them, it did not happen. They had to absorb pressure early and the backline broke in the 23rd minute after a beautiful cross from Eric Davis and a headed finish from Fajardo. Midway through the second half, the Panamanians struck again with an unmarked Bacernas adding another headed finish. In stoppage time, Aaron Suarez broke down Panama’s defense with a give and go from Joel Campbell and the game ended 2-1.
Similar to El Salvador, despite a disappointing loss, this late goal from Los Ticos could impact potential tie-breakers off goal differential. One positive that Costa Rica can take away was the performance of Kevin Chamorro - despite not playing many meaningful games he stepped up big. If he was not as composed in goal, the Ticos could have let in another 2 or 3 goals. He could be the answer to when Keylor Navas eventually retires. For Panama, this is a HUGE confidence boost. Coming off of two disappointing losses at the Nations League Final, they are back on track and the team to beat in Central America.
Group D
Guadeloupe 2 - Canada 2
Goals: Guadeloupe (Ambrose 23’, Russell-Rower (OG) 90+3’), Canada (Cavallini 49’, Lina (OG) 71’)
Watch Highlights Here
Canada has had an interesting few weeks - a disappointing loss in the Nations League Final and now news of further financial issues for the federation. One thing that stuck out to me to start the game was the small crowd at BMO to come out to watch the national team - and the issues quickly got worse. Guadeloupe picked up where they left off from the prelims - scoring goals! In the 23rd minute, Thierry Ambrose scored a wonderful go-ahead goal. Canada’s likely go-to scoring threat heading into the Gold Cup, Lucas Cavalini, got Canada back in the game early in the second half with a goal.
Canada’s momentum continued with a series of attacks that eventually led to an own-goal off Guadeloupe. Les Gwada Boys continued to absorb pressure through the 90th minute until they won a set piece in stoppage time. The ball was whipped into the box, headed off to Ambrose who crossed it in front of goal…and the ball ended up in the back of the net. Unfortunately for Canada it came off of Jacen Russell-Rowe (our player to watch). You have to feel for a young player trying to make a play to see out the game, hopefully he will bounce back from this. Watching this Guadeloupe team through the prelims and this game has been one of the joys of this tournament so far!
Guatemala 1 - Cuba 0
Goals: Guatemala (Lom 48’)
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Just being able to get to the Gold Cup with a full team was a huge victory for Cuba - as visa troubles were persisting until the 11th hour. It was not a good start for Guatemala as Rubio Rubin had to come off early due to injury and was replaced by Darwin Lom. After a back and forth first half, it looked as though they would head into the break dead-locked, until Guatemala won a penalty in stoppage time. Lom stepped up to take the PK and was denied by Raiko Arozarena (brother of Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozerana). This was a huge confidence boost for the Cubans heading into the second half.
Sometimes when a player misses a PK, even the best on the planet, they get in their head and shrink. Whatever Darwin Lom did to break through that at halftime should be a lesson for any forward, because he came out and scored a fantastic one-time goal just 3 minutes into the second 45. Arozarena made a few more massive saves to keep Cuba in it, but unfortunately they were not able to get any momentum going forward and finished the game without a goal and only one shot on target. Guatemala will look to stay in the driver’s seat in Group D with a big matchup versus Canada on Saturday.
Enjoy Matchday 2 - there is a lot to look forward to! Feel free to follow us on Twitter for more regular updates throughout the Gold Cup!
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