Clint Dempsey celebrates scoring Team USA's second goal against Portugal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil at Arena Amazonia on June 22, 2014 in Manaus, Brazil.
Five For Friday: Paralympic Shooting
The U.S. Men’s National Team will seek its second consecutive win in CONCACAF Gold Cup play Friday night when it plays Haiti in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
The Gold Cup defending champs opened the tournament Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory over Honduras in Frisco, Texas. Clint Dempsey scored both goals for the United States, including the game-winner in the 64th minute when he headed in a free kick from Michael Bradley.
If the United States wins the Gold Cup, it would clinch a berth in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
The Americans will finish up group play Monday in Kansas City, Kansas, when they face Panama at Sporting Park. But first the United States faces Haiti on Friday at Gillette Stadium, home of the MLS’s New England Revolution and NFL’s New England Patriots. Haiti tied Panama 1-1 on Tuesday.
“These games come fast, so there’s no time to get too excited,” said Bradley, who earned his 100th international cap Tuesday. “There’s no time to dwell on things. Regeneration started already, we get back, get a good meal, try to make the travel as easy as possible tomorrow and get ourselves ready to step on the field Friday night.”
Once group play is finished, the quarterfinals will be held July 18 and 19 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and MetLife Stadium in New York, followed by the semifinals July 22 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and the championship game July 26 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Paul D. Bowker is a freelance contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.