The U.S. men’s national soccer team kicked off their 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign with an impressive 5-0 victory against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday in San Jose, California. This win comes after a challenging period for the team, marked by their longest losing streak since 2007.
Malik Tillman was the standout player, scoring two goals in the first half, while Diego Luna contributed with two assists. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino emphasized the importance of starting the tournament on a positive note to alleviate some of the negativity surrounding the team.
The match marked a much-needed turnaround for the Americans, who had lost four consecutive games leading up to this tournament. The controversy surrounding star player Christian Pulisic, who opted to rest instead of participating in the Gold Cup, added to the team’s struggles. Pochettino had previously chosen not to include Pulisic in two pre-tournament friendlies, which stirred discussions among fans and analysts.
Tillman opened the scoring in the 16th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Trinidad’s Alvin Jones. He added another goal in the 41st minute, again benefiting from a mistake by Jones. Patrick Agyemang scored just before halftime, making it 3-0 after Luna’s shot deflected off a defender.
In the second half, Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright added to the scoreline, with Aaronson netting his ninth international goal and Wright scoring just over a minute later. The match drew a crowd of 12,610 at PayPal Park, which is modest for a national team game.
Pochettino praised Tillman’s talent and noted the growing understanding between the players and the coaching staff. Luna, who played close to his hometown, expressed his joy at performing well in front of family and friends.
The U.S. team has a strong history in the Gold Cup, having won their group in 16 out of 17 editions. They will face Saudi Arabia next on Thursday in Austin, Texas, followed by a match against Haiti on June 22 in Arlington, Texas.
In goal, Matt Freese replaced Matt Turner, who had been a regular starter for the team. Pochettino explained that the decision was to create competition for Turner, who has not seen much playing time with his club recently. Turner was disappointed but understood the coach’s reasoning.
Overall, this victory serves as a crucial boost for the U.S. team as they aim to regain their confidence and build momentum in the tournament.