The United States opened their 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign in emphatic fashion with a dominant 5-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago at PayPal Park on Sunday night. Led by a brace from Malik Tillman and supported by goals from Diego Luna, Brenden Aaronson, and Haji Wright, the Americans made a statement in their Group A opener under head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
From the opening whistle, it was one-way traffic. The U.S. dictated possession, pace, and territory, pinning Trinidad and Tobago in their own half and piling on early pressure. After several close chances, the breakthrough came in the 16th minute when Jack McGlynn laid off a clever assist for Tillman, who calmly slotted home his first international goal to make it 1-0.
Tillman doubled the lead in the 41st minute, taking advantage of a defensive error to finish off a move started by Diego Luna. Just two minutes later, Luna got on the scoresheet himself, firing from the edge of the box and benefitting from a deflection that left the goalkeeper helpless. The U.S. went into halftime with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Despite some brief moments of promise early in the second half—most notably a dangerous shot by Tyrese Spicer that forced a save from Matt Freese—Trinidad and Tobago never truly threatened to mount a comeback. The U.S. continued their relentless pressure and added a fourth in the 83rd minute when Aaronson slipped away from his marker and beat Marvin Phillip at the near post.
Two minutes later, Wright completed the rout with a composed finish to the far post after a solo run, sealing the 5-0 result.
Pochettino made several substitutions throughout the second half, giving minutes to Miles Robinson, Brenden Aaronson, and Wright, among others. His side looked fluid and confident, demonstrating depth and versatility in all areas of the pitch.
Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, face an uphill task if they are to escape the group. The Soca Warriors were overrun in midfield, lacked cohesion in defense, and struggled to connect in the final third.
The U.S. will look to maintain their momentum in their next group fixture, while Trinidad and Tobago will have to regroup quickly if they hope to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.