It was a great night for the US men’s national team in their 6-1 win over Martinique in 2021 Gold cup 6-1 at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City. The victory of the Americans is impressive proof of the quarter-finals.
Columbus crew Striker Gyasi Zardes scored for the USA after just two minutes from the bench. He came on in the 68th minute for Man of the Match Daryl Dike, who scored two goals in the win.
The USMNT In the first half he got off to a good start, held more than 75 percent of the ball in the first 10 minutes, but didn’t have a good chance to score. The breakthrough came in the 13th minute when Matthew Hoppe sent a cross into the box, where his cross met the head of Dike, who brought him into the net. The destination was Dike’s second for the United States.
In the 23rd minute, the Americans scored a second goal in an odd order. The attack was fluid and Gianluca Busio had an open shot that rattled against the crossbar. Dike headed for the rebound and had a soft header that went back on goal before Martinique defender Sammuel Camille ran back to try to clear it with his heels. Instead, the ball hit his heels and went over his head into the back of the net. The goal was initially an own goal, was later officially decided as Dike’s second of the game, but then again to an own goal.
The USA took third place for the team at the beginning of the second half when a corner was sent in the 50th minute, but it went long. Eryk Williamson brought the ball back at the back post and sent a cross, where Miles Robinson headed his second international goal home without the ball. The fourth goal came in the 59th minute when Dike scored his real second goal after a quick solo run and a chip over the Martinique keeper.
Martinique scored in the 64th minute after Kellyn Acosta committed a foul in the 18-meter space just minutes after being substituted on. The penalty was taken by Emmanuel Riviere, who shot flat on Matt Turner’s right.
In the 68th minute, crew striker Gyasi Zardes came in for Dike in the 22nd minute. Just two minutes into the game, Zardes scored his goal when he passed the goal without a mistake. The Columbus striker had an open shot and shot with a powerful low shot into the lower corner to make it 5-1 for the USA.
The sixth goal came in the 90th minute, Nicholas Gioacchini putting the finishing touches on a Busio cross.
Daryl Dike advocates becoming a US striker
The Orlando city Striker has been cited as one of the top options to be the USMNT’s number 9 to intervene in World Cup qualifiers, and Dike made an argument on Thursday. A brace against Martinique isn’t the most impressive feat, but his consistency in the game before the net and during his loan at Barnsley certainly makes Dike a contender for the starting striker.
It will be up to head coach Greg Berhalter to decide whether to go to the bigger games in this tournament and beyond with Dike or Zardes.
Zardes hits two minutes from the bench
Dike made the strongest argument about being the USMNT striker, but Zardes also had a say. The Columbus striker has now made a goal contribution in both of the Americans’ group games by scoring his 13th international goal against Martinique. He supported the only US gate in the 1-0 win against Haiti last Sunday.
Zardes has shown his consistency in providing goals for both the crew and the US and with his connections with Berhalter, he could find a spot in World Cup qualifiers. The USA are in good hands at this Gold Cup with Dike or Zardes.
For the record, Gyasi Zardes has hit 23% of his MLS litters since joining # Crew96, which is just behind people like Josef Martinez and Chicharito and better than Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi.
– Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) July 16, 2021
What’s next
The USA are in the quarter-finals, but have one last group game against Canada on Sunday afternoon in Kansas City. The game will determine who wins Group B, with the USMNT requiring a win to claim first place. Canada only needed one draw to win the group due to the team’s higher goals.
Group B table
1. (A) Canada (6 PTS, +6 GD)
2. (A) United States (6 PTS, +6 GD)
3. (E) Haiti (0 PTS, -4 GD)
4. (E) Martinique (0 PTS, -8 GD)
