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Welcome back then Gold Cup.
On Saturday night, the tournament began with Trinidad and Tobago taking a point off Mexico in front of over 41,000 in Arlington, Texas. On Sunday afternoon, the action continued with Martinique taking an early lead on Canada before John Herdman’s side replied with four unanswered.
All this to say: you never know what the hell is going on in Concacaf.
So Sunday night’s USMNT vs. Haiti encounter under the lights at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City was always going to have a Gold Cup After Dark feel to it.
Gregg Berhalter went with his most experienced B-Team. It’s not exactly the sort of squad to inspire your boss to give everyone the day off on Monday, and maybe that’s because it looks a lot like the Colorado Rapids. But that’s when Rapids players are at their most dangerous — when you question their human spirit.
The opening goal arrived on eight minutes when Walker Zimmerman spotted the run of Rapids midfielder Kellyn Acosta. The ball eventually made its way across the face of goal to Rapids defender Sam Vines, who planted a header back across the keeper.
¡Gooooooooooool del Team USA!
Vines remata de cabeza y termina haciendo el primero en el partido.1-0 #NuestraCopa | #TeamUSA | #Haití
¡En vivo!
TUDN
Síguelo aquí https://t.co/XCoqFTIQLC pic.twitter.com/lWVlDSeLBw— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) July 12, 2021
Things didn’t go as well for the rest of the team in the opening 45 minutes, and Haiti had a couple chances to get an equalizer.
The Caribbean country figures to be the group’s third-best team, but there are still some exciting pieces from the side that reached the 2019 semifinals, including Gold Cup legend Duckens Nazon, the Columbus Crew’s Derrick Etienne and underrated midfielder Bryan Alceus.
Haiti remained a threat as the U.S. failed to get a second.
In the 62nd minute, there was a great moment when Sporting Kansas City’s Gianluca Busio made his national team debut in front of his home crowd.
A special moment. ❤️@SportingKC midfielder makes his #USMNT debut right at home here @cmpark.
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) July 12, 2021
The 19-year-old almost took the roof off the place minutes later.
Busio almost did that... pic.twitter.com/ZvcLlbpmn7
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 12, 2021
The defense looked better in the second half — the attack didn't but hopefully Daryl Dike starts next time — and the U.S. claimed the 1-0 win. Up next is Martinique on Thursday, July 15, in Kansas City.
