USMNT defeats Haiti 1-0 in Gold Cup group match

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Men’s National team clinched the top spot in Group A of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup with its win 1-0 against Haiti at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Clint Dempsey buried his second consecutive game winning goal to lead the team to victory.

After a scoreless first half, MNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann subbed in Gyasi Zardes, who got right to work, assisting on Dempsey’s game winning strike in the 47th minute.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan made a string of huge saves down the stretch to earn his 11th career shutout. Through five games in 2015, Guzan has a perfect 5-0-0 record and his latest shutout moved him past Arnie Mausser into sole-possession of fifth place on the U.S. MNT’s all-time list.

In Group A’s other game, Honduras and Panama tied 1-1. It was the perfect complimentary result the U.S. needed to clinch the group’s top spot.

The tournament continues for the MNT on Monday, July 13, with the final group match against Panama at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas. The game will be broadcast live FOX Sports 1 and UniMas.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Clint Dempsey (Gyasi Zardes) 47th minute: Just minutes after coming on as a sub, Zardes made an immediate impact, receiving a chipped pass from Greg Garza down the left side toward the end line and then threading a cross back to a cutting Clint Dempsey. Dempsey ran onto the ball and powered a shot over the ‘keeper for the winning score. USA 1, HAI 0 (FINAL) (SEE GOAL)

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
USA – Brad Guzan, (save) 57th minute: Haiti’s Duckens Nazon broke free on the right side and sprinted past the defense towards the goal. One-on-one with Guzan from close range, Nazon tried to beat him to the right, but Guzan reached it on a diving save to preserve the shutout.

Next on the Schedule: The U.S. MNT continues play in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup when it takes on Panama in the final match of group play on July 13 at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. CT.
Broadcast information:  FOX Sports 1, UniMas, UDN

Milestone Watch:

• The MNT has won its group in 12 of the 13 Gold Cups.
• Two MNT players made their Gold Cup debuts: Greg Garza and Aron Johannsson.
• Clint Dempsey made his 17th Gold Cup appearance, the most on the team, and scored his eighth career Gold Cup goal, tying for third place on the U.S. MNT’s all-time Gold Cup scoring list with Brian McBride.
• Dempsey has now scored in three straight MNT matches and has increased his career total to 44 international goals, which ranks second on the USA’s all-time list. Dempsey has scored five times in 2015
• The crowd of 46,720 was the largest to ever view a USA Gold Cup game in Massachusetts.

Additional Notes:

• After coming on as a substitute in Tuesday’s win against Honduras, Graham Zusi made his first career start for the U.S. MNT in Gold Cup play.
• Brad Evans made his first start of the 2015 Gold Cup in tonight’s match. Coincidently, Evans’ first career Gold Cup start came in the USA’s 2-2 draw with Haiti during the 2009 Gold Cup at Gillette Stadium.
• In his 14th international appearance, Tim Ream made his first U.S. MNT start since June 11, 2011 when the U.S. faced Panama in Gold Cup play.
• The son of Haitian immigrants, Jozy Altidore made his first appearance against the nation of his parents’ birth. Altidore has been involved in humanitarian efforts in Haiti since an earthquake devastated the country in 2010.
• The U.S. MNT is 10-2-2 all-time and 7-0-2 in Gold Cup matches played at Gillette Stadium. The team holds a combined 17-2-5 record all-time at Gillette Stadium and old Foxboro Stadium.
• The win against Haiti clinched the USA a spot in the July 18 Quarterfinal in Baltimore.
• The win was the 50th all-time victory for the USA in Gold Cup play.
• The U.S. has won four-straight Gold Cup matches against Caribbean opponents, outscoring the opposition 8-1.

– U.S. Men’s National Team Match Report –

Match:  U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Haiti
Date:  July 10, 2015
Competition:  2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup; Group A
Venue:  Gillette Stadium; Foxborough, Mass.
Kickoff:  8:30 p.m. ET
Attendance:  46,720
Weather:  75 degrees; Sunny

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F
USA                          0          1          1
HAI                           0          0          0

USA – Clint Dempsey (Gyasi Zardes)           47th minute

Lineups:
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 16-Brad Evans, 3-Omar Gonzalez, 15-Tim Ream, 14-Greg Garza (23-Fabian Johnson, 67); 19-Graham Zusi, 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 10-Mix Diskerud, 8-Clint Dempsey, 9-Aron Johannsson (5-Kyle Beckerman, 83), 17-Jozy Altidore (20-Gyasi Zardes, 46)
Subs Not Used : 12-Nick Rimando, 22-William Yarbrough; 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 6-John Brooks,7-Alfredo Morales,11-Alejandro Bedoya, 13-Ventura Alvarado,18-Chris Wondolowski, 21-Timmy Chandler
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

HAI: 1-Johny Sony Placide (capt.); 8-Reginal Goreux (22-Sony Norde, 83), 3- Mechack Jerome, 6-Frantz Bertin, 4-Kim Jaggy; 13-Kevin Lafrance, 16-Jean Marc Alexandre (15-Sebastian Thuriere, 71), 21-Jean Eudes Maurice (10-Jeff Louis, 67), 14-James Marcelin, 7-Wilde Donald Guerrier; 20-Duckens Nazon,
Subs Not Used: 2-Jean Sony Alcenat, 5-Jean Jacques Pierre, 9-Kervens Belfort, 11-Pascal Millien, 12-Steward Ceus, 17-Andrew Jean-Baptiste, 18-Judelin Aveska, 19-Bitielo Jean Jacques, 23-Ronald Elusma
Head coach: Marc Collat

Stats Summary: USA / HAI
Shots: 6 / 15
Shots on Goal: 2 / 4
Saves: 4 / 1
Corner Kicks: 3 / 3
Fouls: 13 / 14
Offside: 4 / 4

Misconduct Summary:
HAI – Jean Marc Alexandre (caution)            23rd minute
HAI – Wilde Donald Guerrier (caution)           34
HAI – Duckens Nazon (caution)                     62

Officials:
Referee: Ricardo Montero (CRC)
Assistant Referee 1: Warner Castro (CRC)
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Camargo (MEX)
4th Official: Roberto Garcia (MEX)

Budweiser Man of the Match: Clint Dempsey