Jesús Ferreira scores hat-trick as USA put six past St Kitts in Gold Cup
Jesús Ferreira scored his second international hat-trick, Djordje Mihailovic had two goals and the 13th-ranked United States overwhelmed No 139 St Kitts and Nevis 6-0 on Wednesday night in the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Mihailovic, Bryan Reynolds and Ferreira scored in a four-minute span to build a 3-0 lead by the 16th minute. The US outshot St Kitts 34-2.
“We know that we had to come out here and gain points, gain goals, and I think the team went out there and took care of business,” Ferreira said.
Ferreira has 11 goals in 20 appearances and became the fastest American to double-digit goals, accomplishing the feat in three games fewer than Clint Mathis. Seven of Ferreira’s goals have been against St Kitts and then-No 170 Grenada.
Ferreira became the fifth American with multiple hat-tricks behind Landon Donovan with three, and Peter Millar, Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey with two each. Ferreira was the only American starter who played at last year’s World Cup, appearing in the first half of the second-round loss to the Netherlands.
Mihailovic also had two assists for the defending champion Americans, who matched their largest Gold Cup victory margin, also 6-0 against Cuba in 2015 and Trinidad in 2019.
The US, who needed a late goal for a 1-1 opening draw against Jamaica, lead Group A with four points. Trinidad and Tobago have three, Jamaica one and St Kitts none. The top two teams advance and the US need merely a draw against Trinidad on Sunday at Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Tonight was one more step forward for us,” US interim coach BJ Callaghan said.
St Kitts, who became the US’s 100th international opponent. dropped to 0-2 as the US improved to 39 wins, one loss and five draws in the Gold Cup group stage.
Making his first start since
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