US and Canada advance to Gold Cup quarter-finals

The United States and Canada both recorded emphatic wins on Thursday in CONCACAF Group B play, advancing to the knockout stage of the tournament in Kansas City.

The Americans routed tiny Martinique 6-1 and Canada did the same to shorthanded Haiti 4-1 at the Children’s Mercy Park, the home of Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City.

Canada have won their first two group games, and the US remain in second place with the same record but are behind by one on the total goals tiebreaker. The leaders will square off Sunday in Kansas City in the group finale.

Daryl Dike scored a brace to power the US to a one-sided victory over Martinique, a Caribbean Island with a population of just 350,000.

Miles Robinson, Gyasi Zardes and Nicholas Gioacchini scored the other goals for the US, while Martinique got their lone goal in the 64th-minute on a penalty kick that was converted by Emmanuel Riviere.

The US improved to 37 wins, one loss and four draws in the Gold Cup group stage.

US coach Gregg Berhalter changed seven starters from last weekend’s opening 1-0 win over Haiti, inserting defender James Sands along with Gianluca Busio, George Bello, Eryck Williamson, Christian Roldan, Matthew Hoppe and Dike. The line-up averaged five international appearances and was in effect a junior varsity, with only Roldan regularly getting much time with the primary player pool.

Hoppe, who started, and Donovan Pines, who entered in the 70th, raised the total to 47 debuts in 31 matches under Berhalter.

Dike, coming off a breakout loan from Orlando to second-tier Barnsley in England’s second-tier League Championship, raised his international goals total to three. He put the US ahead in the 14th minute with a header off a long cross from Hoppe.

Busio’s shot hit the crossbar in the 23rd minute, and Dike headed the rebound toward goal. Samuel Camille attempted a clearance, but the ball popped up and spun in.

Robinson made it 3-0 in the 50th when Busio’s corner kick sailed though the box and Williamson, making his first start, crossed for Robinson to head the ball in for his second international goal.

Dike exchanged passes with a Roldan in the 59th, broke in and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Gilles Meslien.

Acosta, just into the game, fouled Kévin Fortuné, leading to Riviere’s penalty kick that beat American goalkeeper Matt Turner in the 64th.

Zardes got his 13th international goal in the 70th, two minutes after replacing Dike, and Gioacchini, who is from Kansas City, scored his third international goal in the 90th off a cross from Busio, who plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.

In the early game, Cyle Larin scored twice in the second half as Canada knocked off Haiti, who were down seven players due to Covid-19 health and safety protocols.

Stephen Eustaquio and Junior Hoilett also tallied for Canada and Stephane Lambese scored for Haiti. Lambese’s goal was Haiti’s first of the tournament.

Eustaquio, who also scored in Canada’s opening game, scored on a brilliant free kick in the fifth minute as Canada set the tone early and led the entire game.

“I thought Stephen did very well today,” said Canada coach John Herdman. “Obviously the free kick was top level and shows that he has that extra quality.”

Haiti and Martinique also battle on Sunday.

Agence France-Presse