The young USMNT under the leadership of Gregg Berhalter emerged victorious in the crucial knockout-round at the Gold Cup campaign. Although the game was not played in a decisive nature, there was consistency and maturity in the manner of playing which can end up as a critical consideration aspect in the next fixtures. The USMNT managed to secure a win over Jamaica, which happens to be third in rankings among teams belonging from the region. This was a major step for the squad which has had no important experience in their bags.
Berhalter elected to use the tournament in order to gauge the potential of the second-tier squad and have an idea as to which player can perform consistently with the USMNT in the World Cup qualifiers. The knockout stages of the present campaign can provide a similar environment. The Jamaican team stepped on the pitch with many among their best players and confronted the U.S with a commendable challenge. Although the USMNT were undefeated in the group matches, the young team had to perform really well.
USMNT Shows Courage And Determination
The USMNT, on Sunday, managed to survive a few early miscues, got involved in the game, and ultimately managed to emerge as winners from a goal at the 83rd-minute from a courageous Matthew Hoppe, a forward for Schalke 04, who debuted a mere 10 days back.
The coach expressed that the players were prepared for the kind of match it was supposed to be, but once into the game, the story is different. It was sheer resilience that made the USMNT secure the important win. The win ensured that the U.S. qualifies onto the semifinals against Qatar, the champions in Asia, and a guest team at the Gold Cup. The game is scheduled to be held on Thursday at the Q2 Stadium, owned by Austin FC.