The United States kicked off their Gold Cup campaign with a bang, thrashing Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in the first match of Group D. Malik Tillman stole the show in the first half, netting two goals. He scored his first with a shot after a cross from Jack McGlynn in the 16th minute, and his second with a low drive in the 42nd minute. Just before halftime, Patrick Agyemang added a third goal to make it 3-0. The US team kept their foot on the gas, with Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright scoring in the 82nd and 84th minutes, respectively, to seal the 5-0 win for Mauricio Pochettino’s team, earning them three points.
The US team’s dominant performance was a statement of intent in the tournament. They outplayed Trinidad and Tobago from start to finish, creating plenty of scoring opportunities. Tillman’s two goals were the highlight of the first half, but the team’s overall performance was impressive. In the second half, they continued to push forward, with Aaronson and Wright adding the final touches to the convincing win.
Mexico also starts with a win
Mexico, another top contender for the Gold Cup title, also started their campaign on a high note. They beat the Dominican Republic 3-2 in a closely contested match. Raúl Jiménez, a former Benfica player, scored Mexico’s second goal in the 47th minute, while Edson Alvaréz and César Montes scored the other two. The Dominican Republic’s Peter Federico and Edison Azcona gave their team some hope with goals in the 51st and 67th minutes, but Mexico held on to win 3-2. The win gives Mexico three points and sets them up for a strong run in the tournament.