Pulisic, USMNT Do the Cold Revenge Thing on Trinidad & Tobago

This shoulda been a blast from the past.

The USA can't even say its national team pulled their heads out this time.

Only a few heads that weren't really in that disastrous World Cup qualifying loss to Trinidad & Tobago made the roster of this Gold Cup match.

Seems like they learned their lesson, at least.

 

Pasting the Soca Warriors 6-0 in Cleveland didn't feel like revenge being a dish best served cold.

Besides ...

 

Now, almost two years later, the revenge factor's actually missing the point.

No offense to Trinidad & Tobago -- as if it matters -- but that's the sorta result Americans should be posting against a tiny Caribbean country, just like the European big brands slap around minnows like Malta, the Faroe Islands, and San Marino.

 

OK, every once in a while, one of them has a day, and there are yuks all around, but they don't happen in a do-or-die match for a World Cup berth.

And yet, the USA came out and spent most of the first half looking like they did two years ago.

Why, with a serious talent advantage and home turf, did they keep trying to go Route 1? Dudes played long ball after long ball, and in the process, almost allowed the Soca Warriors to steal a goal.

 

Only a spiffy dish by Chelsea-bound Christian Pulisic to Aaron Long in the 41st minute accounted for the run of play:

 

Sanity apparently prevailed at the break, though, as the Americans took heed and reverted to what was surely their game plan.

 

Dudes back to building from the back via short passes.

Those were easily connecting, creating disarray among the visitors, and the rout was on:

 

Dudes actually looked like they were getting tuned for claiming a 2022 World Cup berth, wherever it's gonna be played.

This victory clinches a Gold Cup bracket slot. If the USA beats or draws with Panama on Wed 26 Jun, they'll win Group D and meet Group C's runner-up. That'll be either Jamaica or El Salvador.

 

One would think.

However, it's gonna take more than a faux revenge win before objective observers start saying they're for real again.