U.S. beats Saudis, clinches Gold Cup knockouts

Defender Chris Richards scored with a flick of the shot disconnected a second-half escaped footwear to assistance the United States to a 1-0 triumph implicit Saudi Arabia connected Thursday night, sending the Americans connected to the Concacaf Gold Cuo quarterfinals.

Richards tracked the shot arsenic it flew into the container connected a curving escaped footwear from Sebastian Berhalter successful the 62nd infinitesimal to pat the shot with his near ft past Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aquidi.

The triumph and the 1-1 gully betwixt Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti successful Group D's different lucifer Thursday successful Houston, clinched a knockout berth for the Americans, who improved to 42 wins, 1 nonaccomplishment and 5 draws successful radical play.

The U.S. has won its radical successful 16 of 17 Gold Cups, and closes Group D play connected Sunday against Haiti astatine Arlington, Texas.

U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino stuck with the aforesaid lineup that produced a 5-0 triumph implicit Trinidad and Tobago connected Sunday, the archetypal clip helium made nary changes successful consecutive matches since taking implicit the programme past October. But playing against No. 58 Saudi Arabia, the 16th-ranked Americans showed small of the onslaught firepower they displayed against the No. 100 Soca Warriors.

The lucifer saw fewer existent chances connected extremity by either team. The Americans had conscionable 1 changeable successful the archetypal half. Richards' velocity to way backmost to screen for Alex Freeman's mistake and artifact a changeable kept Saudi Arabia from a 1-0 lead.

Matthew Freese got his 2nd consecutive commencement successful extremity for the U.S. and 3rd successful 4 matches arsenic helium appears to person displaced Matt Turner.

The Gold Cup represents the past competitory trial for the Americans up of the 2026 World Cup. As co-host with Mexico and Canada, the U.S. is an automatic qualifier for the World Cup.

The Americans limped into the Gold Cup connected a four-match losing streak that included a 4-0 rout by Switzerland successful their last tune-up. And with galore of the apical players either sitting retired this tourney for idiosyncratic reasons, injuries oregon playing successful the Club World Cup, Pochettino selected a roster afloat of comparatively untested and unproven players.

Missing the tourney for the U.S. are regulars Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest,