USA scrape past Haiti in Gold Cup

By AFP
June 24, 2025
Luca De La Torre of United States is marked by Ricardo Ade of Haiti during the Group Stage, Group D match between United States and Haiti as part of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup at AT&T Stadium on June 22, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. —AFP
Luca De La Torre of United States is marked by Ricardo Ade of Haiti during the Group Stage, Group D match between United States and Haiti as part of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup at AT&T Stadium on June 22, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. —AFP

LOS ANGELES: The United States wrapped up their CONCACAF Gold Cup group phase campaign with a nervy 2-1 victory over minnows Haiti in Texas on Sunday.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side had already made sure of their place in the quarter-finals after opening Group D with wins over Trinidad and Tobago, and Saudi Arabia. However the Gold Cup hosts were fortunate to preserve their 100 percent start to the tournament with a lacklustre performance at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Malik Tillman fired the USA into the lead in the 10th minute, cleverly steering a header from Brenden Aaronson’s cross back across goal past Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide.

But Haiti stunned the hosts with an opportunistic equaliser in the 19th minute after a blunder by USA goalkeeper Matthew Freese. There appeared to be little danger when defender Tim Ream covered a speculative ball forward and calmly rolled a pass to Freese on the edge of his six-yard box.