After stringing together four wins in five games, the United States Men’s Soccer team finds themselves in the Gold Cup Final. Matt Turner has been incredible in goal for the United States, but he’ll need more help if the USMNT wants to beat Mexico on Sunday night. The Americans knocked off Qatar in the semi-finals. Gyasi Zardes of the Columbus Crew scored the winning goal in the 86th minute. The Mexican team, led by manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino, dispatched Canada in the semi-finals 2-1.
United States vs Mexico | CONCACAF Gold Cup Final Coverage, Location, and Time
Date: Sunday August 1st, 2021 | Time: 9 PM ET
Coverage: FS1
Location: Allegiant Stadium — Las Vegas, NV
The Final will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Mexican National Team had to get through Canada and Honduras to reach the final. The leading scorers for El Tri are Orbelin Pineda and Rogelio Funes Mori. Both players have two goals throughout the tournament. On the American sideline, Gregg Berhalter is the man in charge. He’s called up an extremely young unit, consisting mostly of MLS players, to play in this cup. Daryl Dike and Gyasi Zardes have been good in front of goal. They will need to take their game to another level if they want to beat El Tri.
United States Vs Mexico | CONCACAF Gold Cup Final Betting Odds
Spread: MEX -0.5 (+113) | USA +0.5 (-144)
Moneyline: MEX (+116) | USA (+260)
Total: 2.5 — Over (+145) | Under (-188)
Analysis and Prediction
“Tata” Martino is in a lose-lose situation going into the game tonight. If they beat the United States, the media will say they should have won, and that they were a better team. If they lose to the United States, it will be the second straight cup final victory for the US over Mexico. With that being said, look for the Mexican team to concentrate their offense down the right sideline. In the midfield, Pineda and Hector Herrara will try to push the United States as far back as possible. In this tournament the US have made a name for themselves by getting out of problems through the back four. If El Tri can force the US into a quick, fast-paced game, they will likely have a major advantage.
As I said above, Berhalter has made his point about playing through the back. Just like I mentioned earlier, Matt Turner has been on fire all tournament. He made two incredible saves against Qatar last week. The US will look to use Stevens and the back four as distributors to guys like Dike, Zardes, and Ethan Hoppe on the wings. USMNT midfielder Gianluca Busio, one of the youngest players in the squad, has also been great this tournament, keeping things flowing for the United States attackers. Busio is also very good at free kicks, so look for him to step up if there’s a foul near the box. Overall, if the United States can play out of the back and their midfielders, like Busio, keep the press on, the US should get it’s second straight win over Mexico. Prediction: USMNT 2, Mexico 0: Stevens stands on his head again, and Busio scores the eventual winning goal on a free kick right outside the box.
