Dike scores twice as US routs Martinique 6-1 in Gold Cup

CONCACAF_Martinique_US_Soccer_56509 U.S. forward Daryl Dike (11) celebrates with Cristian Roldan (10) and Gianluca Busio (6) after scoring a goal in the first half of the team's CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match against Martinique in Kansas City, Kan., Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
CONCACAF_Martinique_US_Soccer_81488 Martinique defender Sebastien Cretinoir (21) and U.S. midfielder Cristian Roldan (10) collide after attempting to head the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match in Kansas City, Kan., Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
CONCACAF_Martinique_US_Soccer_63050 United States forward Matthew Hoppe, rear, and Martinique defender Dondon Gerald vie for the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match in Kansas City, Kan., Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
CONCACAF_Martinique_US_Soccer_92219 U.S. defender Miles Robinson, left, and Martinique forward Johnny Marajo go up for the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match in Kansas City, Kan., Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
CONCACAF_Martinique_US_Soccer_34142 Martinique midfielder Stephane Abaul (20) steals the ball from U.S. midfielder Gianluca Busio during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match in Kansas City, Kan., Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
CONCACAF_Martinique_US_Soccer_36823 Martinique's Patrick Burner (17) clears the ball as United States' George Bello (21) pressures during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match in Kansas City, Kan., Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
(1/6)

KANSAS CITY, Kan, (AP) — Daryl Dike scored twice and helped force an own goal, helping the United States to overwhelm Martinique 6-1 Thursday night and clinch a berth in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals.

Miles Robinson, Gyasi Zardes and Nicholas Gioacchini also scored for the U.S., which started a lineup of players who have not been in coach Gregg Berhalter’s top-level player pool.

Canada leads the U.S. (both 2-0) on a total-goals tiebreaker going into their matchup Sunday, which will determine the Group B winner.

The U.S. improved to 37 wins, one loss and four draws in the Gold Cup group stage.

Berhalter changed seven starters from last weekend’s opening 1-0 win over Haiti, inserting defender James Sands along with Gianluca Busio, George Bello, Eryck Williamson, Christian Roldan, Matthew Hoppe and Dike. The lineup averaged five international appearances and was in effect a junior varsity, with only Roldan regularly getting much time with the primary player pool.

Hoppe, who started, and Donovan Pines, who entered in the 70th, raised the total to 47 debuts in 31 matches under Berhalter.

Dike, coming off a breakout loan from Orlando to second-tier Barnsley in England’s second-tier League Championship, raised his international goals total to three. He put the U.S. ahead in the 14th minute with a header off a long cross from Hoppe.

Busio’s shot hit the crossbar in the 23rd minute, and Dike headed the rebound toward goal. Samuel Camille attempted a clearance, but the ball popped up and spun in.

Robinson made it 3-0 in the 50th when Busio’s corner kick sailed though the box and Williamson, making his first start, crossed for Robinson to head the ball in for his second international goal.

Dike exchanged passes with a Roldan in the 59th, broke in and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Gilles Meslien.

Acosta, just into the game, fouled Kévin Fortuné, leading to Riviere’s penalty kick that beat American goalkeeper Matt Turner in the 64th.

Zardes got his 13th international goal in the 70th, two minutes after replacing Dike, and Gioacchini, who is from Kansas City, scored his third international goal in the 90th off a cross from Busio, who plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up