WHAT HAPPENED
The USMNT secured a 2-1 victory over Haiti on Sunday night in a competitive match. Malik Tilman opened the scoring for the U.S. before Haiti equalized in the first half. Patrick Agyemang`s 78th-minute goal ultimately sealed the win, ensuring the USMNT finished atop their Gold Cup group and advanced to the quarterfinals. However, former USMNT player Herculez Gomez voiced his concerns about the team`s performance.
Speaking on Futbol Americas, Gomez questioned why the USMNT didn`t dominate Haiti, noting that the current Haitian side is not as strong as in previous decades. He contrasted this performance with their earlier convincing win against Trinidad and Tobago. Gomez further criticized the Gold Cup roster, stating it largely consists of unproven players lacking significant international experience. “They`re not producing,” he commented. “It doesn`t matter who`s on the field, they don`t look convincing.” While acknowledging that winning the group with three victories isn`t inherently bad, Gomez emphasized that this level of play is not what fans hoped to see from the team just a year before the World Cup.
WHAT KASEY KELLER SAID
Kasey Keller, a veteran of four World Cups for the U.S., echoed similar sentiments, describing the team`s play as “a little bit stale.” On Futbol Americas, Keller admitted he expected a more dynamic performance, particularly after the early goal against Haiti. He specifically highlighted the absence of dynamic attacking players, referencing a previous comment about the lack of players who can “drop a shoulder and run by somebody.”
Despite his criticisms, Keller did credit the USMNT for finding ways to win matches, even when not playing well against teams like Saudi Arabia and Haiti. He noted that this ability to secure results despite subpar performances is something the team had lacked recently. While acknowledging the importance of grinding out wins, Keller stressed that significantly better performance will be needed against stronger opponents.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Although the USMNT topped their group, the unconvincing nature of their victories has raised concerns regarding the team`s preparedness for facing more challenging opposition, particularly when their full-strength squad is unavailable.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Following their 2-1 win against Haiti, the USMNT secured the top spot in Group D. Their next challenge is a quarterfinal match against Costa Rica in the Gold Cup on June 29.
Rupert Caldwell 
Tristan Blackwood