What Happened
In a challenging encounter, the U.S. Men`s National Team defeated Haiti 2-1 on Sunday night.
Malik Tillman initially gave the USMNT the lead, but Haiti responded with an equalizer in the first half. The winning goal came in the 78th minute from Patrick Agyemang, securing the victory and ensuring the U.S. finished at the top of their group to advance to the Gold Cup quarter-finals next Sunday. Despite achieving their objective, former USMNT player Herculez Gomez voiced his reservations about the team`s performance level.
“Consider this USMNT squad that faced Haiti – and people recall the Haiti of the past, the `70s team that was quite good in CONCACAF – but the recent Haiti hasn`t been strong,” Gomez stated on Futbol Americas. “And you begin to ponder, `Why aren`t they decisively beating this team? Why aren`t they dominating the match like they did against Trinidad and Tobago? What`s the issue here?`”
He further commented on the limited international experience within the USMNT roster for the Gold Cup.
“So, if this team, while participating in the Gold Cup for the U.S., is akin to an MLS showcase – which isn`t necessarily negative – they are not established international players,” he explained. “These players entering these situations typically have very few caps, minimal international experience; nothing should be considered guaranteed… Regardless of who is on the field, they are not delivering. Regardless of who is on the field, they don`t look convincing.”
Gomez concluded his assessment by saying, “Considering everything, three wins and finishing first in the group isn`t bad at all. It`s just that this isn`t what the fans want to hear, nor is it what they want to witness a year before the World Cup; they had higher expectations.”
What Kasey Keller Said
Kasey Keller, a veteran of four World Cups for the U.S., described the team`s play as generally “stale” and highlighted a perceived lack of dynamic attackers.
“It felt a bit uninspired, to be honest,” Keller also remarked on Futbol Americas. “I was expecting a bit more, especially after the early goal. I thought perhaps they would build momentum… I kept thinking, `Where are the dynamic players we usually see with the USMNT?` Stuart Holden mentioned something similar the other day against Saudi Arabia, `There isn`t really anyone on the pitch for the U.S. who can drop a shoulder and accelerate past an opponent.`”
However, Keller did credit the USMNT for their ability to find ways to win, particularly given their recent four-match losing streak leading into the tournament.
“Ultimately, I thought Agyemang’s finish was well taken, and that relieved some pressure,” he commented. “But on a positive note, what can be said is – they didn’t play well against Saudi Arabia, they didn’t play well against Haiti – but they managed to win. And we haven’t seen that from this team in a while. Finding a way to win is important, but against stronger opposition, performance needs to improve, as was evident against Turkey and Switzerland.”
The Bigger Picture
Despite topping their group, the less-than-convincing performances have generated concerns about the team`s preparedness for tougher competition, particularly when their full first-choice squad is unavailable.
What’s Next?
Thanks to their 2-1 victory over Haiti, the USMNT secured first place in Group D and are scheduled to play Costa Rica in the Gold Cup quarter-finals on June 29.
