USMNT 5-0 Trinidad and Tobago: Tillman, Luna lead Yanks to open Gold Cup

The United States men’s national team found its footing at Paypal Park in San Jose on Sunday, opening their 2025 Gold Cup with a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago to snap a four-game losing streak.

MORE — USMNT player ratings versus Trinidad and Tobago

Mauricio Pochettino’s men were coming off losses in CONCACAF Nations League outings with Panama and Canada, then friendly losses to Turkiye and Switzerland.

Malik Tillman and Diego Luna starred again for the USMNT, with Tillman scoring twice and Luna assisting two goals as the Yanks built a 3-0 halftime lead. Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright came off the bench to score late goals off Max Arfsten assists in the win.

MORE — USMNT needs to get over itself

Trinidad and Tobago is no longer at their peak, but national team legend Dwight Yorke is overseeing an improved team which has hung tough with Jamaica and Costa Rica in recent weeks.

There was no shock this time despite the Yanks missing Tyler Adams and a sick Johnny Cardoso, and the USMNT can dance into the next round with a match to spare if they can handle Saudi Arabia at 9:15pm ET Thursday in Austin, Texas.

How to watch USMNT vs Trinidad and Tobago live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 6pm ET Sunday
How to watch: FOX, TUDN
Stream online: FOXSports.com or the FOX Sports app.

USMNT vs Trinidad and Tobago live updates, final score: 5-0

Malik Tillman 16', 41', Patrick Agyemang 44', Brenden Aaronson 82', Haji Wright 84'

USMNT sub

Miles Robinson for Chris Richards, 88'.

Haji Wright goal — USMNT 5-0 T&T (84th minute)

Another assist from Arfsten, and this one is more about the scorer than the USMNT’s fourth marker.

Haji Wright is just too much for the right back, dancing across the box and creating space before curling a precision shot inside the far post.

Brenden Aaronson goal — USMNT 4-0 T&T (82nd minute)

Aaronson takes a pass from Arfsten near the left end line, dropping a shoulder and snapping a hard, low shot through Phillip.

Now Paxten Aaronson replaces Luca de la Torre.

USMNT subs

That’s the end of the day for Agyemang, McGlynn, and Luna.

Haji Wright, Mark McKenzie, and Brenden Aaronson enter the game in the 74th minute.

Soca Warriors nearly pull one back

Some poor moments from a comfortable USMNT back line.

Alex Freeman is beaten and T&T send an invitation toward the six, denied by Freese’s slap away from the sliding Dante Sealy of Montreal Impact.

Still 3-0 as the match nears the hour mark.

Patrick Agyemang goal — USMNT 3-0 T&T goal (45th minute)

Luna is on the left wing and doing work, juking his mark and slashing a shot toward goal.

The ball turns off the shin of an onside Agyemang, and it’s 3-0 just before halftime.

Malik Tillman goal — USMNT 2-0 T&T (41st minute)

A gaffe from the Soca Warriors.

Alvin Jones plays a blind pass toward his own box and Diego Luna bet that the T&T man might just do that.

Sprung free toward goal, Luna slides the ball across the six and Tillman belts it into the goal. 2-0.

Yanks keep knocking

It should be 2, maybe 3-0, but the Americans have been just off with their finishing touch.

It’s only a half-hour, but the USMNT look a lot better than they did against Switzerland and Turkiye and, not coincidentally, T&T appear to be as far behind those UEFA mainstays as they appear on paper.

1-0 USMNT, now in the 33rd minute.

Arfsten forces save

The Columbus Crew left back wants a shot, and he forces a big save out of Phillip that leads to a corner kick.

T&T handle that well, and it remains 1-0 to the USMNT in the 19th minute.

Malik Tillman goal — USMNT 1-0 Trinidad & Tobago (16th minute)

Agyemang bulls his way to the ball outside the arc and sends Jack McGlynn into the box.

The young Houston Dynamo man takes an extra touch and seems to spurn the chance, but a few moments later Malik Tillman stays cool at the back post to slot home for 1-0.

Agyemang just wide again

Max Arfsten gets down the left and snaps a cross toward Agyemang near the six.

It’s a header from the Rhode Island grad toward the same post he couldn’t beat five minutes earlier, and it’s just wide again.

0-0, 12'.

Bright start for the Yanks

Malik Tillman is again leading the way, with Diego Luna also active.

The Yanks get Patrick Agyemang into the box for a shot dragged across goal and just wide of the far post.

VAR might’ve found him offside, but it’s a moot point.

0-0, 6'.

Cardoso sick, Adams still hurt

This is a huge opportunity for young Sebastian Berhalter as well as Luca de la Torre, as the Yanks are without the ill Johnny Cardoso and injured Tyler Adams in addition to the absent Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie. Throw in Tanner Tessman, not called into camp, and Berhalter especially has a huge chance to influence Mauricio Pochettino on Sunday.

USMNT lineup

Freese, Arfsten, Richards, Ream, Freeman, De la Torre, Berhalter, McGlynn, Tillman, Luna, Agyemang

Trinidad and Tobago lineup

Phillip, Garcia, Bateau, Jones, Garcia, Powder, Fortune, Molino, Phillips, Spicer, Lee

USMNT focus, team news

There’s a long list of players unavailable to Pochettino including resting Christian Pulisic, injured Antonee Robinson, Ricardo Pepi, and Sergino Dest, and Club World Cup participants Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, and Giovanni Reyna.

Tyler Adams missed the Switzerland game but hopes to be back for this match against the Soca Warriors. where he could join Luca de la Torre or Johnny Cardoso in the midfield. Jack McGlynn scored against Turkiye, while Malik Tillman and Diego Luna were impressive in both games. Chris Richards should be back in the back line, but Pochettino could do just about anything given his team’s poor form.

Trinidad and Tobago focus, team news

There’s no Yorke in this team, though 40-year-old Marvin Phillip is still among the goalkeepers and 33-year-old Joevin Jones remains a club leader. Levi Garcia of Spartak Moscow is a threat up top, while Alvin Jones is still in the fold 7.5 years on from his USMNT-shocking brace in World Cup qualifying. Crystal Palace teenager Rio Cardines could be another player to watch during this tournament.

USMNT vs Trinidad and Tobago prediction

Would you take a two-goal win? What about a one-goal win? The Yanks could use a winning start and fans should expect one as long as they team doesn’t show up thinking their jerseys are worth three points. Even this weakened side will be enough against T&T, perhaps by some margin. There’s too much youth in this team to expect a 4-0, but USMNT 3-1 Trinidad and Tobago is not out of the question.