The U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) played another spectacular performance with forward Jesús Ferreira leading the 6-0 goal scoring against Trinidad and Tobago in the final match of group play.
The game which was played on Sunday night before 40,243 fans at Bank of America Stadium saw Jesus Ferreira score a hat trick in the first half. Cade Cowell, Gianluca Busio and Brandon Vazquez scored the other three goals in the second half.
The USA took the top spot in Group A with a better goal differential than Jamaica, which also finished with 7 points
The USMNT will next face the second-place team from Group D in the quarterfinals on Sunday, July 9 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Group D will conclude on July 4, with Guadeloupe, Guatemala, and Canada in line to finish first or second. The USMNT has crossed to the quarterfinals of all 17 editions of the Gold Cup.
Jesus Ferreira became the first USMNT player to score hat tricks in consecutive matches. The 22-year-old had scored three against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday.
Cade Cowell scored his first international goal in the second half, after leading the USA with three goals at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. Gianluca Busio’s goal was his second of the tournament and third overall late in stoppage time.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner made three saves – his 20th shutout and 20th win – the most of any U.S. goalkeeper in both categories with 30 appearances.
Trinidad and Tobago, nicknamed the “Soca Warriors” made some shots at the US post. The first was from Joevin Jones’ shot which went over the crossbar and then Levi Garcia’s, forcing Matt Turner to make a save from a close-range shot.
However, the USMNT dominated the match, with Ferreira scoring his first-half hat trick in stoppage time when he netted a penalty kick after Djordje Mihailovic was taken down in the box.
Turner denied Trinidad another goal in the second half when he came off his line against Garcia from close range.
Cowell came in as a substitute to score the fourth, Busio fired the fifth 12 yards away and Vazquez ended it all with the 6th at stoppage time.