The United States completed a perfect group stage campaign at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup with a 2-1 victory over Haiti on Sunday night, overcoming a defensive blunder and late pressure to clinch Group D with a 3-0 record.
Patrick Agyemang delivered the decisive moment in the 75th minute, slotting home the winner after collecting a long diagonal pass from John Tolkin. The 23-year-old forward calmly touched the ball past Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide and finished into an open net for his second goal of the tournament and fifth in a U.S. shirt.
The win masked a nervy performance from the Americans, especially after a high-profile error from goalkeeper Matt Freese gifted Haiti an equalizer in the 19th minute. Freese, starting his third straight game ahead of veteran Matt Turner, mishit a left-footed clearance directly into the path of Louicius Don Deedson. The Haitian forward needed just one touch to curl the ball past Freese inside the far post, leveling the match after the U.S. had taken an early lead.
Malik Tillman opened the scoring in the 10th minute, heading home his third goal of the tournament off a pinpoint cross from Brenden Aaronson. The Bayern Munich midfielder was a constant threat throughout, coming close on three separate occasions in the second half before Agyemang finally broke the deadlock.
“Malik’s been excellent in this tournament — confident, aggressive, and clinical,” U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino said after the match. “Patrick showed real composure at a key moment. That’s the kind of depth we’re hoping to build heading into the World Cup.”
The U.S. entered the match already qualified for the quarterfinals after earlier wins over Trinidad and Tobago and guest nation Saudi Arabia. Sunday’s victory gave the Americans their 17th group win in 18 all-time Gold Cup appearances, and marked the seventh time they’ve gone 3-0 in group play. Their all-time group stage record now stands at 43 wins, one loss, and five draws.
Freese’s error, however, added to growing concerns about the U.S. goalkeeping situation as the team prepares for the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Turner’s absence from the starting XI remains unexplained, and Freese’s shaky distribution underlined the pressure of the No. 1 spot.
Making four changes to the lineup, Pochettino handed a start to Tyler Adams, who returned from a turf toe injury and earned a yellow card less than 30 seconds in for a reckless challenge on Duckens Nazon. The American midfield bossed possession for most of the night but struggled to break down a resolute Haitian back line until the late breakthrough.
With the win, the U.S. will face Costa Rica in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Los Ticos advanced as Group C runners-up after a 1-1 draw with Mexico in Sunday’s late game.
Haiti, meanwhile, was eliminated despite a spirited effort. They finished third on goal difference ahead of Trinidad and Tobago, who squandered a late lead in a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia and exited the tournament.
As the final competitive test ahead of the World Cup, the 2025 Gold Cup has served as a proving ground for the U.S. “B team” — a squad featuring emerging talents, returning veterans, and players looking to stake a claim in the 2026 roster. So far, they’ve passed every test, but the knockout rounds will present their toughest challenges yet.
