SANTA CLARA, California – Jesus Ferreira notched another hat trick as the United States topped Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday night in their Group A finale, securing a first-place finish in the group and a spot in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals.
Ferreira is the first player to score hat tricks in two different Gold Cup games in the same tournament and is also the first U.S. player to score hat tricks in back-to-back games.
The U.S. opened the scoring in the 14th minute. U.S. DF DeJuan Jones pushed forward from his left back place and found MF Cristian Roldan near the edge of the area. Roldan attempted a cross that fell back into Jones’ path, and he crossed for Ferreira. Ferreira took one touch and hit the ball past Trinidad and Tobago GK Marvin Phillip on the half-volley.
The North Americans doubled their lead in the 38th minute when MF Djordje Mihailovic set up Alejandro Zendejas to cross. Ferreira’s first shot was deflected by Phillip, but Ferreira put a shot back on goal that was deflected and went over the line.
Ferreira then completed his hat trick right before halftime with a penalty conversion and a 3-0 lead.
Trinidad and Tobago thought it had its opener after the hour mark, when DF Shannon Gomez thumped a shot from distance but saw his effort bounce off the post.
Instead, it was the U.S. adding a fourth next. FW Cade Cowell ran onto a wayward pass from a Trinidad and Tobago player and was one-on-one with Phillip. After shifting past the goalkeeper with a cut back to his right foot in the box, Cowell finished for his first career Gold Cup goal.
It was 5-0 in the 79th minute when U.S. DF DeAndre Yedlin combined with Julian Gressel, whose pass found MF Gianluca Busio, who scored with a right-footed shot for his first-ever goal for the United States.
The final goal came in stoppage time, with FW Brandon Vazquez scoring off the bench, running onto a pass into the box from Cowell and finishing the move.
With the result and Jamaica’s 5-0 victory over Saint Kitts and Nevis, the U.S. finishes first in Group A and moves to the quarterfinals awaiting the runner-up of Group D. Trinidad and Tobago turns its attention to Concacaf Nations League League A play, which begins in September.
