USMNT squeezes past Saudi Arabia, advances to Gold Cup Quarterfinals

It wasn’t pretty but it got the job done. The USMNT booked their spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Thursday night thanks to a second-half goal from defender Chris Richards.

Chris Richards gives USMNT a 1-0 lead over Saudi Arabia

GOOOAAAL FOR THE @USMNT! 🇺🇸

Chris Richards scores off the set piece! 👏 pic.twitter.com/tvQbB6DBkq

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 20, 2025

The match lacked the fireworks of their 5-0 rout over Trinidad and Tobago earlier in the week but a well-placed free kick from Sebastian Berhalter in the 62nd minute gave Richards the chance to flick in the game-winner with his left foot. That was all it took.

The win combined with a 1-1 draw between Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti locks the U.S. into the knockout rounds. They will finish up Group D play on Sunday against Haiti in Arlington, Texas. No pressure there because they are through either way.

Let’s be honest this one was kind of a slog. The USMNT had just one shot in the first half and Saudi Arabia didn’t look much sharper. Richards actually saved a goal earlier in the match recovering from an Alex Freeman error to block a dangerous Saudi shot.

Matt Freese earned another start in goal which was his second straight and third in four games and it looks like he may have officially leapfrogged Matt Turner on the depth chart.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino stuck with the exact same starting eleven for the first time since taking over in October riding the momentum from the Trinidad blowout. But the offense that showed up on Sunday didn’t make the trip to Houston. The Americans looked flat cautious and disjointed for long stretches.

Of course the USMNT roster is missing a ton of firepower. Christian Pulisic Weston McKennie Tim Weah Gio Reyna Yunus Musah Antonee Robinson Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest are all out of the tournament for various reasons.

That is a core group and this Gold Cup squad is loaded with unproven players trying to make a case ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

That is really what this Gold Cup is about. A final proving ground before the lights come on in 2026. The U.S. is already qualified as a co-host so these matches are about depth chemistry and figuring out who is ready for the big stage.

Up next is USMNT versus Haiti on Sunday.

The result will not matter much for standings but the performance will matter for confidence. A win is a win but if the U.S. wants to lift this trophy they need to find a way to bring back the energy we saw in that 5-0 demolition because Thursday night will not cut it against better opponents.

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