USA rout Guyana in Gold Cup opener

Tuesday night at the Midway a sold out Allianz Field watched the U.S. Men’s National Team soundly defeat Guyana to open their 2019 Gold Cup.

Christian Pulisic and Tyler Boyd were the main threats as Gregg Berhalter’s group dominated the opening 20 minutes before allowing Guyana to temporarily slip into the match.

Paul Arriola put the U.S. ahead in the 28th minute with a sublime bit of work from Weston McKennie on the left wing, as the Schalke regular played a square ball centrally for Arriola to run into and the D.C. United attacker passed a shot around goalkeeper Akel Clarke and into the net.

Tyler Boyd was tantalizingly close to doubling the lead, while a neat passing sequence feauring McKennie dancing with the ball inside the box led to Nick Lima’s low shot being denied by Clarke to end the half.

Boyd would eventually find the second goal, running onto a classic pinged long ball from Michael Bradley and cushioning the pass before unleashing a low cannon that nestled into the side netting. A lucky deflection resulted in Gyasi Zardes inadvertently heading a ricocheted ball around a stranded Clarke to make it 3-0 for the Americans.

Worryingly Weston McKennie went down clutching his hamstring late and was subbed out, with any luck the midfielder isn’t seriously hurt.

Boyd completed his brace in the 81st minute with a quick turn and shoot outside the box, scampering centrally before firing another rocket that deflected past the keeper.