The US kicked their Gold Cup campaign into high gear by steamrolling Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 and avenging a 2017 defeat that sent the Americans crashing out of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The US was not only seeking to advance to the next round of the Concacaf Gold Cup, but redemption for that 2-1 loss in their last meeting which sent shockwaves around the soccer world. The 2017 Gold Cup champion US opened their 2019 campaign with a 4-0 win over Guyana. They stepped up their attack against Trinidad on Saturday night, scoring five goals in the final 24 minutes of the contest at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Gyasi Zardes and Aaron Long each scored twice and Zach Steffen stopped three shots for the shutout for the Americans, who had just three players in their lineup who played in that stunning upset two years ago. One of those was Christian Pulisic who scored in the 73rd minute. The other two were Paul Arriola and Michael Bradley. US coach Gregg Berhalter started the same lineup Saturday that he used in the win over Guyana. But this rout should allow him to mix things up in their next game on Wednesday against Panama which will determine first and second place in their group. Zardes narrowly missed a hat-trick, getting three straight chances from in close on the 70th minute. He hit the post on the first, was stopped by the goalkeeper on the second and when the ball came back to him, he sent it sailing high over the bar. In the other Group D match Saturday, Panama defeated Guyana 4-2 and moved to the Gold Cup quarterfinals on Saturday. The Panamanians advanced to the last eight following United States defeat of Trinidad and Tobago. Abdiel Arroyo opened the scoring for Panama in the 16th minute when he beat a defender and Guyana's goalkeeper to a long pass and fired it into an empty net. Guyana equalized through a 33rd minute penalty by Neil Danns but an own goal by defender Terence Vancooten seven minutes later put Panama back in front 2-1. Erick Davis converted a penalty early in the second half to pad Panama's lead to 3-1. Davis' first attempt was saved but the referee ordered it to be retaken after the goalkeeper moved off his line. Gabriel Torres' 86th minute goal put Panama ahead 4-1 before another penalty by Danns, this one in stoppage time, capped the scoring. Panama next face the United States on Wednesday in Kansas City while Guyana take on Trinidad and Tobago. — Reuters
