CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 2, 2023) – The U.S. Men’s National Team rode another standout performance from forward Jesús Ferreira to a 6-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago in the final match of group play on Sunday night before 40,243 fans at Bank of America Stadium. Ferreira registered a first-half hat trick, while Cade Cowell, Gianluca Busio and Brandon Vazquez added second-half goals as the USA clinched the top spot in Group A with a better goal differential than Jamaica, which also finished with 7 points.
The USMNT will next play the second-place team from Group D in the quarterfinals on Sunday, July 9 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio (8 p.m. ET; FOX and Univision Networks). Group D will conclude on July 4, with Guadeloupe, Guatemala and Canada in line to finish first or second. The USMNT has advanced to the quarterfinals of all 17 editions of the Gold Cup.
The 22-year-old Ferreira - who also scored three against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday - became the first USMNT player to register hat tricks in consecutive matches. Cowell and Busio each scored their first international goals, the 19-year-old Cowell doing so just over a month after leading the USA with three goals at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, while the 21-year-old Busio did so down the road from his hometown of Greensboro, N.C. Vazquez scored his second of the tournament and third overall late in stoppage time. On the defensive side of things, Matt Turner made three saves to earn his 20th shutout and 20th win – the most of any U.S. goalkeeper in both categories with 30 appearances.
The USMNT picked up right where they left off midweek having recorded a matching scoreline against St. Kitts, looking bright from the opening whistle. Ferreira got things going at the quarter hour when he finished a nice build-up which included left back DeJuan Jones being involved from his own half and providing his first career assist as Ferreira finished from close range.
While overmatched, the Soca Warriors did have a few threatening chances, first from Joevin Jones attempting a volley that sailed over the crossbar and then Levi Garcia forcing U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner to stay focused and make a save from a close-range shot.
The USA stayed in control and doubled the lead in the 38th when Ferreira got a rebound off goalkeeper Marvin Phillip and shot on goal, eluding the attempt by defender Sheldon Bateau to clear it off the line.
Ferreira finished his first-half hat trick in stoppage time, when he converted a penalty kick after Djordje Mihailovic was taken down in the box.
Turner kept Trinidad off the board again early in the second when he came off his line to deny Garcia from close range and then could only watch as Shannon Gomez rattled a blast from distance off the left post.
The USMNT took back control minutes later, as second-half substitute Cowell picked off a back pass and went alone at goal before rounding the 'keeper for his debut goal. Minutes later Cowell nearly added another but his shot from inside the box clanked off the left post.
Busio then added his goal with 10 minutes left from 12 yards out and Vazquez ended the rout with a nifty chip from the left side deep in stoppage time.
USA - Jesus Ferreira (DeJuan Jones), 14th minute: A seemingly routine thrown-in deep in the defensive half led to the opening goal. Bryan Reynolds and James Sands combined short passes before Sands split two defenders to find Djordje Mihailovic, who quickly turned and advanced it to left back DeJuan Jones in the middle of the U.S. half. Jones took the ball across midfield and played it forward to Cristian Roldan, who waited for Jones to continue his run into the box before giving it back. The New England Revolution fullback quickly played a short ball centrally to Ferreira, who hit a shot from eight yards out past goalkeeper Marvin Phillip for his 12th international goal. USA 1, TRI 0
USA - Jesus Ferreira (unassisted), 38th minute: Attacking left of center, Mihailovic fed Alex Zendejas, who approached the end line before crossing to the back post. Ferreira caught up to it and attempted to play it across, but goalkeeper Marvin Phillip got hands on it. The ball fell back to Ferreira, who shot with his left on the open goal. Defender Sheldon Bateau tried to stop it on the line, but couldn’t keep it out as Ferreira became the first USMNT player to register multi-goal games in back-to-back competitive matches. USA 2, TRI 0
USA - Jesus Ferreira (penalty kick), 45+3 minute: With his attacking mindset, Mihailovic entered the area and was taken down by defender Alvin Jones as he attempted a cross from the left and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Ferreira stepped up and hit a solid shot left of center to complete his hat trick. USA 3, TRI 0
USA - Cade Cowell (unassisted), 65th minute: Cowell jumped on a misplayed ball by Trinidad forward Kadeem Corbin, who attempted to pass it back to his goalkeeper from midfield. The San Jose Earthquakes forward picked off the pass some 40 yards from goal, ran at the goalkeeper and rounded him before finishing for his first career international goal. USA 4, TRI 0
USA - Gianluca Busio (Julian Gressel), 79th minute: Second-half subs Gressel and DeAndre Yedlin combined on the right attacking end, with Gressel staying onside before cutting a pass back to the 12-yard spot, where Busio finished calmly with a low shot to the right for his first international goal. USA 5, TRI 0
USA - Brandon Vazquez (Cade Cowell), 90+4 minute: Cowell took a ball just past midfield and advanced forward, threading a nice pass to Vazquez who chipped goalkeeper Marvin Phillip from a tight angle on the left side for his third international goal. USA 6, TRI 0
Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Date: July 2, 2023
Competition: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup; Group A
Venue: Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte, N.C.
Attendance: 40,243
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: 90 degrees; partly cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 3 3 6
TRI 0 0 0
USA – Jesús Ferreira (DeJuan Jones) 14th minute
USA – Jesús Ferreira 38
USA – Jesús Ferreira (penalty kick) 45+3
USA – Cade Cowell 65
USA – Gianluca Busio (Julian Gressel) 79
USA – Brandon Vazquez (Cade Cowell) 90+4
Lineups:
USA: 1-Matt Turner (capt.); 5-Bryan Reynolds (2-DeAndre Yedlin, 77), 12-Miles Robinson (4-Matt Miazga, 46), 20-Jalen Neal, 15-DeJuan Jones; 6-Gianluca Busio, 8-James Sands, 14-Djordje Mihailovic (19-Brandon Vazquez, 70); 17-Alex Zendejas (11-Cade Cowell, 61), 9-Jesús Ferreira, 10-Cristian Roldan (22-Julian Gressel, 61)
Substitutes not used: 18-Sean Johnson, 23-Gabriel Slonina, 3-Aaron Long, 7-Alan Soñora, 13-Jordan Morris, 21-John Tolkin
Head Coach: B.J. Callaghan
TRI: 1-Marvin Phillip; 16-Alvin Jones, 5-Leland Archer, 4-Sheldon Bateau, 18-Triston Hodge (9-Kadeem Corbin, 65); 11-Levi Garcia, 6-Luke Singh (14-Shannon Gomez, 46), 15-Neveal Hackshaw, 3-Joevin Jones (17-Andre Rampersad, 46); 10-Kevin Molino (capt.) (13-Real Gill, 46), 19-Malcolm Shaw (20-Kaile Auvray, 70)
Substitutes not used: 21-Nicklas Frenderup, 22-Denzil Smith, 2-Aubrey David, 7-Ryan Telfer, 8-Ajani Fortune, 12-Kareem Moses, 23-Molik Khan
Head Coach: Angus Eve
Stats Summary: USA / TRI
Shots: 23 / 9
Shots on Goal: 8 / 3
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 5 / 4
Fouls: 11 / 7
Offside: 1 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
TRI – Kevin Molino (caution) 39th minute
USA – Jalen Neal (caution) 53
Officials:
Referee: Mario Escobar (GUA)
AR1: Luis Ventura (GUA)
AR2: Humberto Panjoj (GUA)
4th Official: Randy Encarnacion (DOM)
VAR: Benjamin Pineda (CRC)
Assistant VAR: Ricardo Montero (CRC)
Bud Light Man of the Match: Jesús Ferreira