Depth on display: USMNT 'B team' thrashes Soca Warriors to open Gold Cup | OneFootball

The United States Men’s National Team opened their 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign emphatically, routing Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 on Sunday night.

The victory, one of the most dominant in the USMNT’s Gold Cup opening-match history, came despite the absence of several key stars, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Sergiño Dest. Even with a heavily rotated roster, the U.S. never looked out of control, delivering a comprehensive performance that reaffirmed their regional supremacy.

A statement win with a youthful core

U.S. head coach Maurice Pochettino, taking charge of his first CONCACAF Gold Cup match, named a young and experimental roster for the tournament. And while that may have contributed to friendly losses to Turkiye and Switzerland, it also created space for fringe players and rising prospects to step into the spotlight on Sunday. And step up they did.

The U.S. goals came from a mix of seasoned MLS standouts and emerging talents playing in Europe: Malik Tillman notched a clinical brace, Brenden Aaronson added a thunderous strike from inside the box, Patrick Agyemang capitalized on a defensive lapse, and Hadji Wright added the final flourish deep in the second half. It was a testament to the growing depth of American soccer — a reality that bodes well not just for this tournament, but for World Cup 2026.

“We’ve got a next-man-up mentality,” said Wright, who now has four goals in 16 appearances for the national team. “Everyone’s hungry. We know what the expectations are when we wear this badge, and even without our biggest names, we came here to win.”

While some of the more-known USMNT stars were recovering from long European seasons or nursing minor injuries, others were given time to rest and regroup ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The risk of fielding a 'B team' always looms large in tournament football. It can backfire, as seen in past U.S. campaigns where squad rotations disrupted chemistry.

However, against Trinidad and Tobago, it was evident that the drop-off in quality wasn’t as steep as some feared. The U.S. controlled 70% of possession, had 21 shots to Trinidad’s three, and didn’t face a single shot on target until in the second half.

The midfield pairing of Luca de la Torre and Sebastian Berhalter was particularly impressive. The duo dictated the tempo, recycled possession effectively, and proved tactically disciplined. Both players covered each other seamlessly, snuffing out counterattacks and initiating transitions with intelligence. For de la Torre, whose development in La Liga with Celta Vigo has seen peaks and valleys, this was a reminder of his potential when playing in a structured system.

While the headlines will go to the goal scorers, the U.S. defense deserves equal praise. Tim Ream and Chris Richards were tidy at the back, calmly repelling what little threat Trinidad offered. Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten, operating as fullbacks, provided width and tempo without compromising shape. New York FC Goalkeeper Matt Freese, making just his second appearance, had a relatively quiet night, but commanded his area with confidence and dealt with crosses and back-passes cleanly. The defensive unit’s ability to keep a clean sheet will please the coaching staff, especially as the tournament’s later stages are likely to feature sterner opposition.

Trinidad and Tobago: brave but overmatched

For Dwight Yorke, the Trinidad and Tobago side, the match exposed the gulf in class between the Caribbean hopefuls and the region’s heavyweights. Missing several key players themselves due to injury and club commitments, the Soca Warriors struggled to gain any foothold.

Still, it wasn’t for lack of effort. Nataniel James tried to make things happen in transition, and veteran defender Sheldon Bateau marshaled a backline that was under siege for most of the 90 minutes. But the technical and tactical chasm proved too wide. The team’s decision to sit deep and absorb pressure ultimately backfired once the U.S. broke the deadlock.

“We knew it was going to be tough,” said Yorke post-match. “But we wanted our younger players to experience this level. The U.S. was clinical, fast, and they punished our mistakes.”

If there’s one player who grabbed the opportunity with both hands, it was Jay Fortune. The Atlanta United midfielder has faced his share of scrutiny in past tournaments — including a tough night against Costa Rica in a World Cup Qualifier — but he looked sharp and decisive in the middle of the park on Sunday.

The big picture

One of the most promising aspects of the U.S. performance was its tactical versatility. Pochettino employed a 4-3-3 formation that often morphed into a 3-2-5 in attack, with Jack McGlynn tucking inside to help de la Torre and Berhalter dictate the middle. At the same time, Tillman and Agyemang stretched the field wide. Diego Luna's direct running caused problems all night for Trinidad’s fullbacks. His pace and willingness to take players on gave the U.S. a vertical outlet that consistently disrupted defensive lines. What he thought was his goal was an eventual gift to Agyemang, which would be a reward for his persistence.

The 5-0 win marks the USMNT’s joint-second-largest margin of victory in a Gold Cup opener, tied with their 2005 demolition of Cuba and only trailing their 6-0 rout of Belize in 2013. It also extended the U.S.’s unbeaten streak against Trinidad and Tobago in competitive matches since the infamous 2-1 loss in 2017 that cost them a spot at the 2018 World Cup. That night in Couva still lingers in the minds of long-time fans and players alike, but this dominant display served as another step in putting that dark chapter further behind.

While the result was expected, the performance exceeded expectations. The U.S. showed hunger, cohesion, and tactical maturity — traits not always associated with Gold Cup group stages, especially with rotated squads. The next match against Saudi Arabia, who faced Haiti in the group’s other opener, will likely pose a more physical challenge. But with momentum firmly on their side, the U.S. is in pole position to top the group.

If the message wasn’t clear before, it is now: the U.S. is deeper than ever. They can afford to leave out 6-8 automatic starters and still put five goals past a World Cup qualifying-level team. That depth is going to be crucial not just for this Gold Cup but for the 2026 World Cup cycle and beyond.