The 2023 Gold Cup has played through two full matchdays! Through two games there are only two nations, Mexico and Panama, who have booked their spot in the quarterfinals. With one game to go, there are still six spots up for grabs. Let’s take a look back at how we got this point!
A look back at Gold Cup Matchday 2
Group A
Jamaica 4 – 1 Trinidad and Tobago
Jamaica played a great game against the USA on matchday one securing a point; Trinidad and Tobago got a big win over St. Kitts and Nevis to lead the group heading into matchday two. This match had the making of a determining one for the fate of Group A at this Gold Cup.
Early on it was clear one nation was at a higher level. Jamaica scored three times through a Demari Gray brace and a Leon Bailey goal. It was 3-0 in favor of the Reggae Boyz before the 30th minute. As the match turned to the second half, T&T got one goal back, but it couldn’t spark a comeback. Jamaica put the final nail in the coffin in second-half stoppage time to make it a 4-1 win.
Highlights
St. Kitts and Nevis 0 – 6 USA
After falling to Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis didn’t have any ground to give against the USMNT. The USA drew Jamaica and needed a big win against St. Kitts and Nevis in order to assert their dominance. That is exactly what happened in this game, eliminating St. Kitts and Nevis from knockout round qualification of the 2023 Gold Cup.
The USMNT ended up scoring six goals on St. Kitts and Nevis. Four of which came in the first half, two in the second half. Bryan Reynolds scored a banger for his first-ever international goal, Djorde Mihaliovic scored a brace, and Jesus Ferreira scored a hat-trick. This match was over when the US scored their first goal in the 12th minute. Now they’ll need another big win to win Group A on the final matchday.
Highlights
Group B
Qatar 1 – 1 Honduras
Qatar fell in the first match of their 2023 Gold Cup to Haiti; Honduras also lost on matchday one to Mexico. On the second matchday, both nations were looking to gain the ground they lost by winning a game. Unfortunately for both sides, neither would get the W in this one!
It looked like Qatar was going to be off to a good start as they scored in the seventh minute. After that point, they spent the other 83 + 6 minutes trying to defend for their lives, time-wasting and all. Honduras attacked over and over again, but it looked as if they would take another L; that is, until the 90+6th minute. Alberth Elis put his body on the line to latch onto a ball in Qatar’s box, salvaging a point with one of the final kicks of the game. Both nations are still alive heading into the final matchday.
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Haiti 1 – 3 Mexico
Haiti and Mexico both won their first matches of the 2023 Gold Cup. Both were the favorites to get out of the group. Would the Concacaf minnow, Haiti be able to hold up against the Concacaf shark that is Mexico on matchday two?
It was a first half of frantic back-and-forth play. Each side missed good chances in a wide-open game. Things shifted in the second half. Mexico scored in the first minute of the second half, rattling Haiti. They added a second goal 10 minutes later. Haiti did pull one back with just about 10 minutes left in the match, but Mexico answered back to make it 3-1. That’s how the match ended. Mexico punched their ticket to the knockout round, while Haiti will need at least a draw to make the quarterfinals.
Highlights
Group C
Martinique 1 – 2 Panama
Martinique showed they belong at this Gold Cup with a win on the first matchday. Panama won as well. Now this match could send one nation to the knockout rounds should either nation find a way to win on matchday two. While Martinique was off to a hot start, Panama put them in their place a little bit in this matchup.
A scoreless first half might have given Martinique some false hope heading into the second. That’s when Panama sprung to life. Scoring two goals in 13 minutes gave Panama a huge lead that they were able to hold. Martinique tried to throw numbers forward, but it was too little too late. They did find a goal in the fourth minute of the second-half stoppage, but it was mainly a consolation. Panama were off to the knockout round, while Martinique will need at least a point to join Panama after the last matchday.
Highlights
El Salvador 0 – 0 Costa Rica
El Salvador and Costa Rica are two of the bigger Concacaf nations at this Gold Cup. However, both fell in their first matches in this tournament. Both needed a win in the second match, but neither really took the match seriously enough to win it.
Each team took a good amount of shots. El Salvador took nine; Costa Rica took 12; however, only two of El Salvador’s were on target to three of Costa Rica’s shots on target. Both nations did little to win the game, and a scoreless draw was the justified result. Both of these teams are still alive to make the knockouts but will need a win in the last matchday.
Highlights
Group D
Cuba 1 – 4 Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe has been the darlings of this 2023 Gold Cup. Their 2-2 draw vs Canada on the first matchday showed that they were here to compete not just participate. Cuba held their own against Guatemala but unfortunately lost. In this match against Guadeloupe, they were behind the eight-ball from the jump.
Darlings, Guadeloupe, scored three goals in the first half. A goal inside the first 15 minutes set the tone, and Cuba never really recovered. After the first-half three-goal thrashing, the match was on cruise control for Guadeloupe. Cuba was spread thin trying to find a goal, which led to a fourth Guadeloupe goal. Cuba did get a consolation goal, but it didn’t spark a heroic comeback. The win put Guadeloupe in first place in Group D heading into the final matchday and eliminated Cuba.
Highlights
Guatamala 0 – 0 Canada
Guatemala won their opening game at this Gold Cup; Canada drew. Canada is supposed to be one of the giants of Concacaf, but their play at this tournament hasn’t looked good enough to claim that. Canada needed a win to compete for the top of Group D, while Guatemala needed a win to advance to the knockout rounds.
Like we saw the day before, this was a match that never really got going. There were plenty of shots for both nations; Guatemala took 11 shots to Canada’s nine. However, Only two of those 11 were on target for Guatemala, and Canada only had three shots on goal. The game was disjointed from the jump, and neither team could find a breakthrough. Both are still alive in their quest for the knockout rounds. Guatemala only needs a point, while Canada has to win if they want to make it to the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup!
Highlights
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Mandatory Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Roberson & Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire
