GOLD CUP: Reigning champs USA coast to win over debutants Guyana

The United States defeated Guyana 4-0 in its 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup Group D opener on Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 19,418 at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Paul Arriola gave the U.S. the lead in the 28th minute with a curled effort to the far post off his right foot, coming in off the left side after being played through on the ground by Weston McKennie.

Guyana also had some quality passages of play and kept the deficit at a single goal until the 51st minute, when Michael Bradley played a long ball in behind the Guyana backline and into the path of Tyler Boyd.

Making just his second appearance for the national team, Boyd gave Clarke no chance as he slotted home, low and hard to the far-post.

Gyasi Zardes made it 3-0 just five minutes later, an attempted defensive clearance from Guyana ricocheting off the face of Zardes and into the back of the net.

Boyd then notched his second goal of the night in the 81st minute, a blistering, albeit slightly deflected shot from just outside the eighteen finding its way past Clarke for the final score of 4-0. (Concacaf)

Editor’s note: With the win, USA are top of Group D, ahead of Panama, who earlier defeated Trinidad and Tobago 2-0. On Saturday, it will be Guyana versus Panama and Trinidad and Tobago against USA.