The U.S. Men`s National Team secured victory in a hard-fought match against Haiti, ultimately winning 2-1. Mauricio Pochettino`s side took the lead through Malik Tilman, but Haiti equalized in the first half. Patrick Agyemang`s goal in the 78th minute sealed the win, ensuring the USMNT topped their Gold Cup group and advanced to the quarterfinals next Sunday.
Experts Weigh In
Despite the result, former USMNT player Herculez Gomez expressed skepticism about the team`s quality. Speaking on Futbol Americas, Gomez noted that the recent Haiti team is not as strong as their historical counterparts. He questioned why the USMNT wasn`t dominating the match more decisively, especially compared to their previous performance against Trinidad and Tobago.
Gomez added that the current Gold Cup squad largely consists of players from MLS with limited international experience. He stated that possessing only a few international caps means nothing should be taken for granted. Regardless of the specific players on the field, Gomez feels the team isn`t performing convincingly or producing the desired level of play.
“Considering all that, three wins and finishing first in the group isn`t terrible,” Gomez admitted. “However, that`s not what the fans want to hear or see just a year before the World Cup. They anticipated a different level of performance.”
Kasey Keller, who represented the U.S. in four World Cups, also found the team`s play generally “stale.” He was hoping for more, particularly after the early goal against Haiti. Keller specifically pointed out a lack of dynamic attackers, referencing a comment from Stuart Holden about the absence of players who can easily beat defenders one-on-one.
Nonetheless, Keller acknowledged the USMNT deserves credit for finding ways to win, a trait they lacked during a recent four-match losing streak leading into the tournament. He praised Agyemang`s finish against Haiti but cautioned that while finding ways to win is crucial, better performance is necessary against stronger opponents, citing matches against Turkey and Switzerland as examples.
The Bigger Picture
Winning the group is positive, but the unconvincing nature of the victories has raised concerns about the team`s readiness for more difficult challenges, particularly when the full first-choice roster is unavailable.
What`s Next?
Having finished first in Group D after the win against Haiti, the USMNT is set to face Costa Rica in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup on June 29.
