March 24 (Reuters) – The United States soccer team, current Concacaf Nations League champion, secured its participation in the Gold Cup on Friday after beating Grenada 7-1 as a visitor on the fifth and penultimate matchday of the group stage of the tournament.
With their victory, the US team reached seven points to lead Group D completed by El Salvador with five and Grenada with one.
In a match corresponding to the A League of the tournament, the United States scored the first goal after four minutes when Ricardo Pepi headed in a cross sent by Christian Pulisic from the left sector.
Brenden Aaronson scored the second goal for the Americans in the 20th minute with a low shot from inside the box.
Weston McKennie increased the United States’ lead in the 31st minute when he finished inside the six-yard box off a rebound.
A minute later, Granada scored a discount through Myles Hippolyte, who beat goalkeeper Matt Turner with a powerful left-footed shot in the center of the area.
McKennie recorded his brace in the 34th minute when he pushed the ball into the six-yard box from Auston Trusty’s header after a cross from Pulisic, who scored the fifth goal in the 49th minute with a shot inside the box that went wide. hands off goalie Jason Belfon.
Pepi scored the sixth with his brace after 52 minutes, defining before the goalkeeper left after receiving a filtered pass from Luca de la Torre.
The seventh goal fell in the 72nd minute when Alejandro Zendejas hit the ball just past the right post with a shot from outside the area after a defensive error by Granada.
The United States will close the group stage of the Champions League on March 27 when it is local against El Salvador in a match where the winner of the sector will be defined.
The winners of each of the four groups of League A qualify for the semifinals of the tournament, in addition to ensuring their place in the Gold Cup that will be held between June 16 and July 16.
The runners-up in each of the four Liga A groups and the winners of each Liga B group also qualify directly for the Gold Cup. (Reporting by Carlos Calvo Pacheco in Mexico City)
Source: Ambito
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