Daryl Dike celebrates his first of his two goals. (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)
Using a young and inexperienced lineup, the United States rolled to a 6-1 victory over Martinique in the Concacaf Gold Cup at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas Thursday night.
Daryl Dike struck twice and Miles Robinson, Gyasi Zardes and Nicholas Gioacchini also scored for the Americans, who also had another tally via a Martinique own goal.
The result boosted the USA into the knockout round and set up a border confrontation between the Americans (2-0-0, 6 points) and its Canada counterpart (2-0-0, 6) at the same venue Sunday. In the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader, the Canadians recorded their second 4-1 result of the competition, besting Haiti by that score in its first game Sunday night.
“I think we set the tone,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said. “I think teams know what we’re about. For us it’s about how do we keep getting better with this group. That’s plain and simple. We have a goal to win the group.”
Despite the huge margin of victory, Berhalter felt there was plenty of room for improvement.
“I didn’t think we were competing well enough on [second balls],” he said. “Our positional play can improve; at times we’re too open in the middle of the field. Our defensive pressure could have been better and our chance conversion.”
As promised, head coach Berhalter rotated his lineup as the USA Starting XI saw seven new faces. That included the likes of forward Matthew Hoppe and center back James Sands, who made their first international starts.
To say the USMNT deployed an inexperienced lineup would be an understatement as players averaged five caps apiece.
“It’s a nice feeling, when you give guys opportunities and they take advantage of it,” Berhalter said.
Dike, making his second start, lifted the hosts into the lead in the 14th minute as he headed home a left-wing cross from Matthew Hoppe from six yards past goalkeeper Gilles Meslien.
Well worked boys! @DarylDike's second goal for the #USMNT, while @MatthewHoppe9 collects his first in his 🇺🇸 debut!
(@FoxSoccer) pic.twitter.com/5TMudlZzRq
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) July 16, 2021
The USMNT created much chaos in the box to double its margin in the 23rd minute. Gianluca Busio, a Sporting Kansas City midfielder getting his first international start, rammed a shot off the crossbar. The ball eventually came to Dike, who headed it toward the goal as the ball appeared to have gone off Martinique’s Samuel Camille.
Here's our second of the night and it really is a team effort! 🇺🇸
Bello ➡️ Hoppe ➡️ Busio ➡️ CROSSBAR ➡️ Dike ➡️ Own goal.
(@TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/0MZ6Ae4bPV
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) July 16, 2021
At first, an own goal was awarded. Then, the Orlando City SC forward was given the goal. And as the second half began, it was announced on TV that it reverted back to an own goal.
There was no doubt about center back Miles Robinson’s second goal in his fifth international match as he headed home Eryk Williamson’s right-wing cross from close range in the 50th minute.
Eryk Williamson ➡️ Miles Robinson ➡️ 3-0 🇺🇸!
(@TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/LtHKouryfZ
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) July 16, 2021
Dike finally got his second goal the old-fashioned way, running onto a pass by Cristian Roldan before he chipped it over Meslien for a four-goal margin.
He became the second youngest USMNT player 21 years, 4 to register a brace in a Gold Cup match. Christian Pulisic (20 years, 288 days) was the youngest to accomplish that feat.
Emmanuel Rivière spoiled goalkeeper Matt Turner’s shutout bid by connecting on a penalty kick in the 64th minute after Kellyn Acosta fouled Kevin Fortune in the box.
Only two minutes after coming on for Dike, Zardes latched onto a long pass by Cristian Roldan on the right flank before slotting the ball home to the far side of the net for his 13th international goal and a 5-1 advantage in the 70th minute.
Here's that clean finish from @gyasinho to make it 5-1!
(@FoxSoccer) #MTQvUSA pic.twitter.com/FGCwoSjwoe
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) July 16, 2021
Playing as their lives depended on it, the Americans struck one more time in the 90th minute as the Kansas City connection made its mark. Busio, who plays for SKC, penetrated deep on the right side and send a cross into the middle that Gioacchini slammed home the ball home for a five-goal advanttage.