The U.S. men’s national team might be short-handed, but that was not an issue in its Concacaf Gold Cup opener against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, June 15.
Malik Tillman scored two first-half goals, Patrick Agyemang added a third before halftime, then Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright completed the 5-0 rout at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.
With the USMNT’s biggest star, Christian Pulisic, opting to rest this summer rather than play in the Gold Cup, it was Tillman and Diego Luna who were the fulcrums for the team’s attack against Trinidad and Tobago. It was Luna who set up Tillman’s second goal, and his shot on goal that Agyemang deflected to score his.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino — who came in at significant expense after the U.S. badly underwhelmed at the 2024 Copa América — saw his four-game losing streak come to an emphatic end. Pochettino and his squad will look to continue Sunday’s impressive form when they play Saudi Arabia on Thursday, June 19 at at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago highlights
Miles Robinson comes on for Chris Richards
In a like-for-like substitution, central defender Miles Robinson has come into the game in place of Chris Richards in the 87th minute.
USMNT 5, Trinidad and Tobago 0: Haji Wright contributes to rout
Haji Wright, another second-half sub, scored just two minutes after Brenden Aaronson’s goal.
Like Aaronson, Wright burned Trinidad and Tobago defender Sheldon Bateau to net his goal. Bateau is having a rough day, as he also was nutmegged by Patrick Agyemang for a goal in the first half.
Paxten Aaronson comes on for Luca de la Torre
The brothers Aaronson are both on the PayPal Park pitch, as Paxten joined Brenden Aaronson in the 83rd minute.
USMNT 4, Trinidad and Tobago 0: Brenden Aaronson adds to lead
Moments after coming on as a second-half substitute, Brenden Aaronson scored his first USMNT goal in nearly two years.
Aaronson, who now has nine goals for the national team, last scored for the USMNT in September 2023 in a friendly against Oman.
USMNT makes first substitutions of the game
In the 74th minute, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino made his first substitutions of the game.
Haji Wright replaced Patrick Agyemang, Brenden Aaronson came on for Diego Luna, and Mark McKenzie subbed on for Jack McGlynn. McKenzie gives the U.S. a fifth defensive player on the pitch as the team looks to secure three points in its Gold Cup opener.
USMNT 3, Trinidad and Tobago 0: Patrick Agyemang gets deflected goal off Diego Luna’s shot
Moments after his interception led to Malik Tillman’s brace, Diego Luna set up another goal moments before halftime.
After collecting a long pass while wide open on the PayPal Park pitch, Luna juked a Trinidad and Tobago defender and took a shot that teammate Patrick Agyemang deflected through the legs of Sheldon Bateau as the U.S. took a comfortable 3-0 lead into intermission. Agyemang got credit for the goal, which is his fourth for the national team.
USMNT 2, Trinidad and Tobago 0: A brace for Malik Tillman
Malik Tillman has supplied both USMNT goals in the first half against Trinidad and Tobago.
This one came in the 41st minute and came after Diego Luna collected a bad back pass from T&T, then found an open Tillman in front of goal to double the USMNT’s lead.
USMNT 1, Trinidad and Tobago 0: Malik Tillman scores opener
The USMNT had enjoyed the majority of possession early against Trinidad and Tobago, and in the 16th minute that pressure paid off.
Malik Tillman put the United States on the scoreboard, banging a shot past T&T goalkeeper Marvin Phillip off an assist from Jack McGlynn.
This is a promising start for a USMNT that has endured a frustrating build-up to this year’s Concacaf Gold Cup.
USMNT’s Alex Freeman is the son of Super Bowl winner Antonio Freeman
Alex Freeman, a 20-year-old defender who plays professionally for Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer, is the son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman.
Antonio Freeman spent eight of his nine NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, helping the team win Super Bowl XXXI. In that victory, Freeman had an 81-yard touchdown reception.
Alex Freeman, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, signed a homegrown deal with Orlando City in 2022. He made his debut with the team on April 29, 2023 during a win over the LA Galaxy. Alex Freeman made his USMNT debut as a starter in the team’s 2-1 defeat against Turkey on June 7.
What time is USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago at Concacaf Gold Cup?
The Concacaf Gold Cup group stage game pairing the USMNT with Trinidad and Tobago is set for 6 p.m. ET, with PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif. hosting.
How to watch USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago Gold Cup game: TV, stream
Time: 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
Location: PayPal Park (San Jose, California)
TV: Fox
Stream: Fubo
Watch USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago with a free trial of Fubo
USMNT starting 11 vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago starting 11 vs. USMNT
USMNT schedule for the 2025 Gold Cup
Sunday, June 15: vs. Trinidad and Tobago, 6 p.m. ET (FOX)
Thursday, June 19: vs. Saudi Arabia, 9:15 p.m. ET (FS1)
Sunday, June 22: vs. Haiti, 7 p.m. ET (FOX)
What is the Concacaf Gold Cup?
The Gold Cup is a biennial tournament for national teams in the North and Central American and Caribbean region associated with Concacaf. Mexico (nine times), the U.S. (seven times) and Canada (one time) are the only nations to have won the Gold Cup. Mexico won the last Gold Cup competition in 2023.
Which players are on the USMNT Gold Cup roster?
Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/England)
Defenders (9): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/France), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/England), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel/Germany), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
Midfielders (9): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/England); Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/England), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/Spain), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands)
Forwards (5): Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht/Netherlands), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Damion Downs (FC Köln/Germany), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Haji Wright (Coventry City/England)