Source: Alamy Stock Photo

United States Defeats Saudi Arabia to Advance in the Gold Cup

The United States secured their place in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Austin, during the second round of Group D action.

Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards scored the match’s only goal in the 63rd minute.

It marked the Americans’ second consecutive win following their 5–0 rout of Trinidad and Tobago, putting them at the top of the group with six points—three ahead of Saudi Arabia, who had narrowly beaten Haiti 1–0 in their opening match.

The United States became the third team to qualify for the quarterfinals, joining defending champions Mexico and Costa Rica, both of whom topped Group A with perfect records through two matches.

Mexico won the most recent edition in 2023 by defeating Panama 1–0 in the final, extending their record to nine titles—two more than the United States, who are seeking their first crown since 2021, when they beat Mexico 1–0 in extra time.

The U.S. struggled at times against a Saudi side missing several Al Hilal players due to their Club World Cup duties—also taking place in the United States. Nonetheless, Richards’ goal was enough to seal the three points and secure qualification.

Saudi Arabia is participating in the continental tournament under a partnership agreement signed in August 2024 between the Saudi Public Investment Fund and CONCACAF. The deal supports CONCACAF’s national team and club competitions across men’s, women’s, and youth levels, and includes Saudi participation in the 2025 and 2027 editions.

Saudi Arabia will face Trinidad and Tobago in their third match next Sunday, while the United States will meet Haiti.

The first half saw few scoring opportunities as Saudi Arabia emphasized defensive discipline. The tempo picked up in the second half when Richards nearly scored with a header from a Jack McGlynn cross, only to be denied by a brilliant save from goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi.

The breakthrough came when Sebastian Berhalter delivered a direct free kick into a crowded penalty area, where Richards struck cleanly into the net.

Tensions rose late in the match following a push on U.S. substitute Tyler Adams, prompting both Saudi coach Hervé Renard and U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino to enter the field in an effort to calm the situation.

After the match, Richards said the focus was simply on advancing: “We really needed that tonight. It was a tough match against a strong opponent—full credit to them. But that’s the nature of CONCACAF tournaments. Sometimes it’s about physicality, sometimes it’s about grit—and I think that’s exactly what we delivered tonight.”

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