The USA will face Saint Kitts and Nevis for the first time, with both teams seeking their first victory of the 2023 Gold Cup on Wednesday at CityPark.

In their first-ever group stage fixture in this competition, the Sugar Boyz were beaten 3-0 by Trinidad and Tobago, while a late goal helped the US salvage a 1-1 draw in their opening match against Jamaica.

Match preview

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The little island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis have come a long way on the CONCACAF footballing landscape, but as evidenced in their Gold Cup debut, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Austin Huggins saw a group that looked overwhelmed and unsure of themselves throughout the 90 minutes on Sunday, conceding three times in a match for the second time this month.

That defeat over the weekend was the worst that this team had experienced in over two years when they were handed a 4-0 loss versus El Salvador.

It was also the first time this team had failed to find the back of the net in over a year when Andorra shut them out in a March 2022 friendly (1-0).

This team have not beaten a side outside of the Caribbean since defeating Belize 4-0 on the B side at the CONCACAF Nations League in 2019.

Their defeat versus Trinidad and Tobago was only the second time since a 3-1 loss to French Guiana in 2019 that a Caribbean nation had defeated them.

Wednesday will mark the first time they face a side from North America since 2018, when they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Canada, while their only positive result this century against teams from that region occurred against those same Canucks, drawing them 0-0 in a World Cup qualifier in 2011.

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A pair of Nations League titles and a Gold Cup in just over two years has established the US as the team to beat in this year's competition, but for much of their encounter on Saturday, the Americans showed us that they are only human after all.

The 13th-minute goal from Philadelphia Union defender Damion Lowe was the first time BJ Callaghan had seen his team concede under his leadership as the US trailed in a group-stage fixture at the Gold Cup for the first time since 2015.

Callaghan will be keeping the seat warm for Gregg Berhalter, who will re-assume control of this team following the conclusion of this tournament, and since Berhalter's temporary hiatus, the US have failed to win four international fixtures.

Although they rarely choose the best players for this competition, one thing the Yanks know how to do extremely well is find the back of the net, having done so in all but one of its 44 group stage matches all-time at the Gold Cup.

Their overall depth at this tournament has often been their saving grace, as four of their last seven goals scored at this tournament have come from substitutes.

They have not lost this year when conceding the opening goal, while they have not been beaten by a Caribbean nation since falling 1-0 versus Jamaica in a 2019 friendly played in Washington DC.

Since suffering a 3-2 defeat versus Mexico in the 2015 Gold Cup final, the Yanks have won 39 straight matches when netting multiple times, though they have only managed to score a single goal in each of their last five games in this competition, with the header by Lowe on Saturday being the only time they had conceded over that stretch.

Team News

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Omari Sterling-James picked up his 20th cap in Saint Kitts colours on Sunday, Ronaldo Belgrove came on for Tiquanny Williams in the second half for his first appearance with the Sugar Boyz, and Julani Archibald is now just one appearance away from equalling George Isaac for third all-time, featuring for the 52nd time this past weekend.

Romaine Sawyers and Keithroy Freeman are in a three-way tie for 10th in all-time goals for their country, each netting six times, while Jacob Hazel is their only striker chosen at this competition who has yet to score for the national team.

With Belgrove picking up his first selection on Sunday, that leaves Rico Browne and Xander Parke as the only players on the Gold Cup roster without an international appearance.

Julian Gressel was excused from the Americans' opening match at this tournament due to the pending birth of his child, while six US players made their debuts at the Gold Cup, including Cade Cowell, Aidan Morris, Jalen Neal, Alan Sonora, John Tolkin and Brandon Vazquez.

Vazquez netted the equaliser in the 88th minute, his second in just four total appearances for the Yanks, Matt Turner celebrated his 29th birthday by captaining the team, and he was instrumental in the comeback, stopping Leon Bailey from the penalty spot with his side down 1-0, the second of his international career.

Matt Miazga made his first start for the US since late March 2021, Djordje Mihailovic featured for the first time since December 2020, while Cristian Roldan played his first international fixture since June 2022, replacing Sonora in the 65th minute.

Saint Kitts and Nevis possible starting lineup:
Archibald; Roberts, G. Williams, Burley, Hanley; Somersall, Terrell; Sawyers; T. Williams, Freeman, Hazel

USA possible starting lineup:
Turner; Reynolds, Miazga, Robinson, Jones; Sands, A. Morris; Mihailovic, Busio, J. Morris; Vazquez

We say: Saint Kitts and Nevis 0-4 USA

Saint Kitts were outmatched in their opener, and they will be even more so on Wednesday as the Americans possess a ton of quality all over the field, so we anticipate a relatively one-sided affair and a comfortable victory for the reigning Gold Cup champions regardless of who features.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Joel Lefevre

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