CALIFORNIA, United States – Trinidad and Tobago suffered a nightmare start to their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign when they were hammered 5-0 by the United States in their opener at PayPal Park on Sunday night.
United States forward Haji Wright (left) is congratulated by midfielder Paxten Aaronson after scoring against Trinidad and Tobago.Malik Tillman netted a brace, while Diego Luna, Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright all got on the score sheet to help the USA end a four-game losing streak and give new head coach Mauricio Pochettino a much-needed victory.
Despite the USA missing several key players, they were on top from the outset with two early chances for striker Patrick Agyemang, who helped create the 16th-minute opener.
Agyemang won the ball off Trinidad defender Alvin Jones, found Jack McGlynn on the right who kept his cool and clipped the ball to the back post where Tillman collected and slotted home.
It was a tough day for Jones, who then gifted the USA their second goal with a back-pass that went straight to winger Diego Luna who unselfishly squared to Tillman for the PSV Eindhoven midfielder’s second goal in the 41st minute.
The lively Luna created the third, a minute before the break, when he cut in from the left and his low shot deflected off Agyemang and beat the helpless Marin Phillip in goal.
Aaronson and Wright, who came on as second half substitutes, then completed the rout in the 83rd and 85th minutes respectively, to give their side a commanding victory.
