LOS ANGELES: The United States wrapped up their CONCACAF Gold Cup group phase campaign with a nervy 2-1 victory over minnows Haiti in Texas on Sunday.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side had already made sure of their place in the quarter-finals after opening Group D with wins over Trinidad and Tobago, and Saudi Arabia. However the Gold Cup hosts were fortunate to preserve their 100 percent start to the tournament with a lacklustre performance at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
PSV Eindhoven midfielder Malik Tillman fired the USA into the lead in the 10th minute, cleverly steering a header from Brenden Aaronson’s cross back across goal past Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide.
But Haiti stunned the hosts with an opportunistic equaliser in the 19th minute after a blunder by USA goalkeeper Matthew Freese. There appeared to be little danger when defender Tim Ream covered a speculative ball forward and calmly rolled a pass to Freese on the edge of his six-yard box.
