Patrick Agyemang scored the winner in the 75th minute, and the United States conquered Matt Freese’s keepers who beat Gaffe 2-1 on Sunday evening and won the Concacaf Gold Cup group with a 3-0 record.
Malik Tillman brought the US first in the 10th minute with his third goal of the tournament. Nevertheless, Freese, who displaced Matt Turner, emphasized the goalkeeping issues of the Americans a year prior to the World Cup with a failed clearing attempt that led to the 19th minute goal of Louicius Don Deedson.
After Tillman came close three times in the second half, Agaremang scored after taking a long pass from John Tolkin. Agaremang touched the ball by goalkeeper Johny Placide and left him in an open just before his fifth international goal and the second of the tournament.
The US, who opened with victories over Trinidad and Tobago and guest Saudi -Arabia invited, won its group for the 17th time in 18 golden cups. The Americans have 43 victories, one loss and five draws in group game and go 3-0 for the seventh time.
With largely a B team in the tournament, the Americans went to a quarterfinals against Costa Rica next weekend.
Haiti finished third in group D on goal difference before Trinidad and Tobago, which was eliminated when it wasted a lead in a 1-1 draw against the Saudis.
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The Gold Cup is the last competitive test for the 16th ranking Americans prior to the World Cup. As co-hosts, the US, Mexico and Canada get automatic berths.
For a thin crowd of 20,918 in the 80,000 seats house of the Dallas Cowboys, one of next year’s world cup locations, Tillman scored when he led the ball in the distant pole of Brenden Aaronson’s Cross.
Freese blundered when he took a back pass from Tim Ream and tried to play the ball with his left foot to Tolkin. The ball immediately went to Don Deedson, who took a touch and scored in the distant pole.
The American midfielder Tyler Adams started after he had been delayed by Turf, under four changes by coach Mauricio Pochettino, and received a yellow card for a late sliding tackle on Duckens Nazon in about 25 seconds.
Costa Rica keeps Mexico on a draw
Mexico Bond Costa Rica on Sunday evening with 0-0 to win group A of the Concacaf Gold Cup and plays Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals.
The Santiago Giménez of Mexico seemed to score on a bicycle shovel in the fourth minute of the second half of the stopping time, but the goal was not allowed by Guatemalekse referee Mario Escobar after a video review.
Giménez seemed to be offside when Carlos Rodríguez took the ball after a free kick in the penalty area. Orlando Galo’s clearance attempt went to Giménez for the goal.
Also read: Curacao holds Canada in a 1-1 draw; Honduras beats El Salvador
Mexico, unbeaten in 10 Gold Cup matches against Costa Rica, even ended with the Ticos on seven points but won the group on target difference.
El Tri, who defeated the Dominican Republic and Suriname in their first two games, will play Saudi Arabia next weekend, while the Costa Ricans meet the United States.
Costa Rica misses four regular starters. Forward Manfred Ugalde, who has three goals in the tournament, and midfielder Carlos Mora are suspended for accumulation of yellow card. Defender Ariel Lassiter has a broken left hand and Warren Madrigal has a broken left leg.
