USA v Trinidad and Tobago
Sunday 23tf June 0300hrs
Football – International – CONCACAF Gold Cup
Pick USA to win to nil
Bookmaker Bet Victor
Odds: 11/10 (odds taken 16.55 GMT, Saturday 22nd June)
The Gold Cup is up and running and joint hosts USA are looking to qualify for the next stage with a win against Trinidad and Tobago, who need the points to keep their hopes alive.
CONCACAF Gold Cup Betting at BetVictor
USA Preview – Can USA get a second straight win and qualify for the knockout stage?
The USA are current holders of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and got this current tournament off to a great start. Few expected the States to have many problems against Guyana and that’s the way it proved. A 4-0 win was achieved with the minimum of fuss and should bring them on for tougher challenges that lie ahead. Gregg Berhalter has been in charge for less than a year, so this tournament was always going to be a good barometer of where his squad currently is. USA are expected to battle it out with Mexico for the honours at the business end of this Gold Cup. Another win and three points against Trinidad and Tobago would qualify them for the quarter finals and achieve the initial objective. Should the States prevail it would tie them alongside Mexico for the most wins in this competition.
It could be the two North American powerhouses meet in the final next month.
Trinidad and Tobago – Are Trinidad and Tobago capable of surprising their hosts?
It was always going to be an uphill struggle for Trinidad and Tobago to make their mark on this Gold Cup and that was emphasised against Panama. A laboured performance where they were very much second best resulted in a 2-0 defeat. To their credit the Trinidadians showed some resilience to keep them in touch until the second half. However, their lack of quality told, and Dennis Lawrence’s men added to their five-game winless run. It’s also their fifth straight win without scoring a goal and their seventh blank in their last eight. That will be the biggest worry in their next two games – where are the goals going to come from. It already looks like being a reach for them to make it into the quarter finals, but Lawrence will be looking for an improved performance.
If they can achieve that against the States then it would set them up well for a final game against Guyana, who they would be expected to beat.
Key-Facts – USA v Trinidad and Tobago
- Holders USA got their campaign off to a winning start and know a win here would see them qualify for the knockout stage
- Trinidad and Tobago have struggle of late and were disappointing when losing to Panama earlier in the week
- The Trinidadians have not scored in their last five games and in seven of their last eight
USA v Trinidad and Tobago Betting Advice
The States have been in something of a downward spiral since winning the last Gold Cup back in 2017. Failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup led to a serious review of their approach and this competition provides a first chance of redemption. Berhalter was appointed to steer the ship in a different direction and move towards a younger group. It was hardly an ideal pep coming into the Guyana match after losing to Jamaica and Venezuela in friendly games. The win and scoring four goals will at least have given them some much needed confidence.
Trinidad will struggle to trouble their opponents in attack such is the difference in quality between these two teams. It’s unlikely that their goalless run will come to an end in Ohio this weekend. The US, for all they have not been great, are a level or two above Trinidad and should be able to take the win without conceding a goal. At the same time moving on to six points and qualifying for the knockout stage.
