For the U.S. men’s national team, the buzzword of the month was “opportunity.” Opportunity for newcomers and reserves to displace absent regulars. Opportunity for the likes of Malik Tillman and Matt Freese to state their case for permanent starting spots. There were opportunities in friendlies, then in the Gold Cup, and on Sunday night, a 2-1 win over Haiti magnified which have been seized and which have been squandered.
Tillman, a 23-year-old attacking midfielder, has clearly taken his. He headed home his third goal in three games to give the USMNT an early lead.
Freese, on the other hand, a 26-year-old goalkeeper starting his third consecutive game, made his first costly error. He side-footed a pass straight to Haiti’s Louicius Don Deedson, who then beat Freese from a tough angle.
The equalizer gave Haiti belief. The rest of the first half was surprisingly even. It has been five decades since the Haitians beat the USMNT. At times, it seemed like they were capable of doing so on Sunday.
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The U.S., though, asserted itself gradually, especially in the second half. And in the 75th minute, Patrick Agyemang, another attacker with opportunity, won the game for the USMNT.
Agyemang is curious case. Physically, he is a handful. Technically, he is clearly not ready for the international level. Sunday’s game, for 70-plus minutes, was another one of missed opportunities for the late-blooming 24-year-old. But in each of his three USMNT camps, just when fans have begun to concluded that he’s in over his head, Agyemang has scored.
Elsewhere on the field, Quinn Sullivan, in his first Gold Cup start, was occasionally lively. So was Brenden Aaronson. But neither did enough to snatch a starting spot with two hands. Tillman was, and is, the only player who has truly elevated his standing.
With the win, the U.S. clinched first place in Group D. In the quarterfinals next weekend, it will face either Mexico or Costa Rica.
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