USA Vs Canada Betting Tip: Over 2.5 Goals – 18 July 2021

North American foes can serve up rare goal treat

Alphonso Davies / Canada ©IMAGO / Icon SMI 07/07/2017

United States USA Vs Canada Canada

Sunday 18 July, 2021 – 22:00
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 17 July 2021)

Preview: It is winner takes all at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City. Well, sort of. The USA simply have to win if Gregg Berhalter’s side are to dislodge Canada from atop Group B, whereas the latter only require a point to wrap up top spot.

CONCACAF Gold Cup Betting at Betfair

 

USA – Berhalter plotting last-ditch swoop for top spot?

With a full quota of points and a six goal differential, the USA are already assured of their customary spot in the next round. For they have never exited as early as the group stage in all sixteen editions since the competition’s inception in 1991. All barring one seen them move on as winners of their group, so they will no doubt be in determined mood to avoid a rare unwanted feat in this final Group B outing.

USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter made six changes from the side that laboured to a 1-0 win over Haiti first time out for their second taste of action against Martinique. He was duly rewarded with a more cohesive performance from his team. Showing their Caribbean opposition no mercy in a 6-1 win, notching six goals in the second group game for the second successive staging of this tournament.

Conceding from a second half penalty would have felt like a minor blot on their copybook at the time but, as it turns out, is the reason they occupy second place going into this showdown with Canada. Thus ending a five-game winning streak without conceding in group play, stretching back to 2017. A somewhat makeshift defence will come under even greater scrutiny by the tournament’s leading scorers.

 

USA Win & Both To Score
16/5

Betfair

 

Canada – On top but can they stay here?

The importance of scoring twice late on in the 4-1 victory over Haiti last time – a side against whom the USA could produce only a slender 1-0 scoreline – would have been lost on them at the time. As it transpired, it is the difference, currently, between them topping Group B on account of their marginally superior goals tally. Put simply, the Canucks need only avoid losing Sunday to consolidate top spot.

Having lost all four prior Gold Cup encounters with the Stars and Stripes, though, three of which were inside 90 minutes, the Canadians won’t need any reminding as to the size of the task facing them. Even if they are up against an admittedly understrength USA lacking the big names that took them to Nations League glory in June. Canada boast one win in thirteen previous meetings in all competitions, losing eight.

Yet, following successive 4-1 victories, it is they holding the aces approaching the closing strait of group play. Their eight goals is the most in the competition thus far. Cyle Larin has three, building on an excellent season in Turkey with Besiktas where he scored 23 in all competitions, and, alongside suspended midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, is one of two members of this team to score in both games.

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USA Vs Canada Betting Advice

With eight wins and only one loss across their thirteen previous encounters with Canada, to be getting close to even money about a USA victory would seem mighty generous under normal circumstances. Unfortunately, with another bout of changes from head coach Gregg Berhalter inbound and the Canadians looking impressive early doors, it is an opportunity we are prepared to pass up.

 

USA Vs Canada – Key Facts:

  • Both sides are desperate to preserve perfect records at this Gold Cup. USA trail Canada in Group B on account of just one fewer goal scored.
  • The upper hand, though, belongs to the USMNT who have won eight of the previous thirteen meetings (D4 L1) between the two North American nations.
  • Canada netted three second half goals in their latest 4-1 win against Haiti. However, USA went one better, netting four after the half-time interval in their recent 6-1 thrashing of Martinique.

 

Recent meetings tended to be cautious affairs, with only their most recent contest – a 4-1 victory for USA in Nations League competition back in November 2019 – seeing more than two goals or both teams scoring. I suspect this could be an exception, though. Between them these defences have posted one clean sheet against considerably inferior opposition, but plundered 15 goals, for an average of 3.75 per game.

Best Betting Odds – USA Vs Canada

USA – 8/11
Draw – 11/5
Canada – 18/5

(All odds shown provided by Betfair)