Preview: Martinique vs. USA - prediction, team news, lineups

The USA will try to extend their unbeaten run in the Gold Cup group stage to 15 games when they host Martinique from Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City on Thursday.

Les Matinino gave up four unanswered goals to Canada, losing their opener 4-1, while the Americans scored early versus Haiti and ended up with a relatively comfortable 1-0 win.

Match preview

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Martinique could not have asked for a better start to this tournament, capitalizing on a terrible Canadian miscue in the 10th minute, but unfortunately for Mario Bocaly and his side, it was all downhill from there.

That dream start quickly evaporated as Martinique found themselves trailing 3-1 after 26 minutes and could not recover as they lost their opening match of this tournament for a second successive occasion, after they had won their opening Gold Cup games in 2013 and 2017.

Now they face the test of likely needing a result against not only the CONCACAF Nations League champions, but a side that they have never beaten in their two previous meetings, in 2017 and 2003.

They will, however, take some confidence from their last encounter with the Yanks, where they fought back from two goals behind to level the match at two with a brace from Kevin Parsemain before succumbing to a 3-2 defeat.

If they are to beat the US for the first time, they will need to be clinical in front of goal, which is an area that they have performed well in, scoring in six of their last seven games.

It was not the prettiest victory, but, in the end, the United States got the job done in their opening match, thanks to a Sam Vines header in the eighth minute.

Gregg Berhalter played a relatively inexperienced side who had a solid opening to the game but appeared disjointed as the match wore on, and they were unable to break down a stubborn Haitian side in the second half.

Thursday will be his 30th match in charge of the national team, with the former Columbus Crew boss seeking his 21st victory with the US.

They may not have created a lot offensively over 90 minutes last weekend, but they were rarely threatened by the Haitians, who could only muster three shots on target, while the Americans maintained 63% of the possession.

With several American players getting their first taste of the Gold Cup, it will be interesting to see how they respond in their second match of this competition.

Team News

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Martinique striker Emmanuel Riviere has scored in back-to-back games for his country, although the first goal came back in 2019, in their last match before this tournament, a 1-1 draw with Honduras at the CONCACAF Nations League.

Goalkeeper Gilles Meslien faced five shots versus Canada and surrendered four goals, while central midfielder Stephane Abaul was relatively ineffective in the middle of the park.

Nimes fullback Patrick Burner and Romario Barthelery each had a nightmare of a time trying to shut down the speedy Canadian attack, and they will need to be better against a versatile American squad.

US defender Reggie Cannon experienced hamstring problems the day before their opening match and did not see the field, while striker Paul Arriola was substituted after 14 minutes due to tightness in the same area.

Matt Turner made his first start in goal for the Americans in official competition, earning a clean sheet with three stops, while defenders Shaquell Moore, Miles Robinson and Sam Vines all made their official competition debuts as well, with Vines scoring the lone goal of the match.

Midfielder Sebastian Lletget captained the Americans for the first time, while striker Gyasi Zardes notched his 10th assist with the national team, becoming the second-fastest player in US history to reach double-digits in goals (12) and assists, behind only Landon Donovan.

Martinique possible starting lineup:
Meslien; Dondon, Cretinoir, Barthelery, Camille; Grelet, Abaul, Herelle; Fortune, Riviere, Pastel

USA possible starting lineup:
Turner; Pines, Zimmerman, Robinson, Vines; Acosta, Roldan, Lletget; Busio, Zardes, Gioacchini

We say: Martinique 0-2 USA

Playing in their first match since 2019, Martinique showed their rust, seemingly a step behind the Canadians throughout the majority of that match, and they could have a hard time containing a young and speedy American team.

The United States did not have a spectacular opening match, but they always seem to get better as these competitions go on, so we should see a much sharper team in this one.