2025 Gold Cup: Richards scores in final, but USA suffer heartbreak

First-team

7 Jul 2025

Chris Richards scored in the Final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup for co-hosts United States – but his team suffered the heartbreak of a late defeat to Mexico – while Academy starlet Rio Cardines has been in action for Trinidad and Tobago. Find out how Palace's players fared in the biggest Men's international tournament of the summer below.

How did Palace's players get on?

Richards looked set to be the hero once more for the USA in the final of the competition on Sunday night – but ultimately his side went down 2-1 to Mexico at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

The Palace defender once again started for the Stars and Stripes as they sought to win the competition for the first time since 2021.

And, similar to the set-piece routine which saw him score in the group-stage win over Saudi Arabia, Richards was on the mark after just four minutes.

The Palace man latched on to a free-kick from Sebastian Berhalter – son of Gregg Berhalter, who was Palace's first-ever World Cup representative back in 2002 – to power a header in off the underside of the bar after just four minutes.

The USA enjoyed half-chances to extend their lead but conceded an equaliser on 27 minutes when Raul Jimenez rocketed a finish in for Mexico from a clever reverse pass inside the box.

And while a tight second-half ensued, it was Mexico who stole victory on 77 minutes when Edson Alvarez stole in from a set-piece to head his team to victory.

Despite the defeat, Richards and the USA showed their progress throughout the tournament – their last competitive engagement prior to co-hosting next summer's FIFA World Cup Finals.

The USMNT had seen off Guatemala in the semi-finals at Energizer Park in St Louis.

Richards once again played the full 90 minutes and saw his side race into a two-goal advantage after just 15 minutes thanks to Diego Luna's early brace: the first a predatory finish from close range, the second a brilliant individual effort.

Richards collected a booking on the stroke of half-time as Guatemala rallied to increase the pressure, but Mauricio Pochettino's side were relatively comfortable in the second-half – until Olger Escobar's precise finish set up a nervy final 10 minutes.

Nevertheless, the USA saw it through to reach a 10th Gold Cup final in the tournament's last 13 iterations: a repeat of the last two in 2009, 2011, 2019 and 2021, as Mexico also advanced following a narrow win over Honduras.

Prior to that, Pochettino's team had reached the last four after a quarter-final penalty shootout win over Costa Rica – with Richards again featuring.

Starting again in the middle of a back four, Richards completed the full 90 minutes of a thrilling quarter-final in Minneapolis, where the US recovered from conceding an early goal to lead, following strikes either side of half-time from Diego Luna and Maximilian Arfsten.

But Costa Rica’s Alonso Martinez levelled a see-saw tie for Los Ticos in the 71st minute with a left-footed shot.

With no extra-time at this stage of the competition, that sent the tie to a dramatic penalty shootout to determine who would meet Guatemala on Wednesday night.

Goalkeeper Matt Freese made a remarkable three saves in the shootout, with Damion Downs scoring the winning penalty.

"I think we went down early and we clawed our way back into it," Richards reflected after the game. "I think even in the moments when we went down, we weren't nervous.

"It's now about momentum. We've had a good group stage and then today was a tough fight, but it was a fight we needed to win. And again, if we can come back from a game like this, then the next game will be a breeze."

Previously in the group stage, the United States – who had already qualified – and Trinidad and Tobago – playing for qualification – met in the final round of fixtures in Group D.

Richards and the US played their part with a third win from three, as the defender played the full 90 minutes of a 2-1 win over Haiti in Arlington, Texas.

The co-hosts took an early lead through Malik Tillman's early header, only for a goalkeeping error by Freese to allow Haiti an equaliser.

But Richards and the USA sealed three points late on through Patrick Agyemang to seal top spot.

For Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday evening, meanwhile, 18-year-old defender Rio Cardines started his nation's decisive game against Saudi Arabia – with his team needing a win in Vegas.

They got off to the perfect start as well, with Dante Sealy's spectacular curling effort giving the Soca Warriors the lead in the 10th minute.

But Saudi Arabia – also fighting to qualify from Group D – hit back midway through the second-half through Feras Albrikan and held on, despite late pressure, to secure a 1-1 draw.

With two points to their opponents' four, therefore, Trinidad and Tobago exited the competition, finishing third in the pool.

In the second round of matches, Richards had been the star of the show for the United States.

The defender scored his second senior international goal to secure the co-hosts' qualification from Group D, with a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Austin.

Looking to build on a clean sheet and three points from the US' opening match, Richards played the full 90 minutes – and this time went one better with not only the decisive goal midway through the second-half, but also a Player of the Match-winning display.

The 25-year-old made a well-timed run, and produced a composed finish, to slam home a free-kick from Berhalter.

It was enough to settle another tight game and secure three points for the United States.

In the second round of matches, Cardines made his first start at a major international tournament in a 1-1 draw with Haiti in Houston.

The right-back played the full 90 minutes as his team kept their qualification hopes alive with an equaliser midway through the second-half.

Haiti had seen a man sent off shortly before half-time, but struck shortly after the break to surprisingly take the lead – only for Cardines and his team to rally and secure an important point.

Earlier this week, in both teams' first Group D fixture, Richards played 87 minutes as the USA recorded a clean sheet and put five goals past Trinidad and Tobago – for whom Cardines featured for the final 28 minutes – at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

The Stars and Stripes were dominant from the off in their opening match, recording 21 shots to the Soca Warriors' three – and 71% possession – to cruise past their opening opponents.

USA were three goals to the good by half-time, adding a further two late on, to provide the perfect riposte to their previous four defeats in a row.

Cardines, meanwhile, came on to enjoy his first action at a major international tournament finals, having only last month made his senior international for Trinidad and Tobago.

Match Details

Check back on cpfc.co.uk for updates on how our international Eagles get on during the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

All times below are BST.

United States (Chris Richards)

Sunday, 15th June (23:00): United States 5-0 Trinidad and Tobago (Richards played the first 87 minutes to help keep a clean sheet)

Friday, 20th June (02:15): Saudi Arabia 0-1 United States (Richards played the full 90 minutes and scored the match-winner to secure his team's qualification)

Monday, 23rd June (00:00): United States 2-1 Haiti (Richards played the full 90 minutes as the USA made it three wins from three in the group stages)

Monday, 30th June (00:00): United States 2-2 Costa Rica [USA won 4-3 on penalties] (Quarter-finals. Richards played the full 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in an action packed contest)

Thursday, 3rd July (00:00): United States 2-1 Guatemala (Semi-finals. Richards played the full 90 minutes and was booked, but helped his team reach yet another Gold Cup final)

Monday, 7th July (00:00): United States 1-2 Mexico (Final. Richards scored after four minutes with a bullet header, and completed 90 minutes as his team suffered a late defeat)

Matt Turner was also called up by the United States whilst his loan was in effect at Palace; he was an unused substitute for his country.

Trinidad and Tobago (Rio Cardines)

Sunday, 15th June (23:00): USA 5-0 Trinidad and Tobago (Cardines came on in the 62nd minute for his first experience at a major senior international tournament)

Thursday, 19th June (23:45): Trinidad and Tobago 1-1 Haiti (Cardines made his first Gold Cup start and played the full 90 minutes, as his team earned a vital point)

Monday, 23rd June (00:00): Saudi Arabia 1-1 Trinidad and Tobago (Cardines played the full 90 minutes as Trinidad and Tobago narrowly missed out on qualification)

The tournament explained

Only a year out from co-hosting the World Cup finals in 2026, the USA national side are involved in their final major tournament before the main event.

In preparation for playing host to the world’s best on home soil in 12 months’ time, they must first face their fellow Northern and Central American rivals.

Palace’s American pair of Chris Richards and Matt Turner (then on loan with the Eagles) were both selected in the USMNT squad of 26 players and were looking to help their country to international glory.

Last month, Cardines – a regular for Palace's Under-21s in Premier League 2 this season – earned his first senior call-up for Trinidad and Tobago, having played for the Under-17s side last season in the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship.

On that occasion, he played three games and managed to score one goal for Trinidad and Tobago as they made it to the quarter-finals of the tournament. He has also played for the Under-20s last year.

In the 24/25 campaign, Cardines made 20 appearances for Darren Powell’s Palace U21s, scoring twice and assisting once while predominantly playing as a wing-back on the left or right-hand side.

He duly joined up with the Trinidad and Tobago senior side for the Unity Cup last month at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium, and made his senior international debut against Jamaica, where he played the full match in a late 3-2 defeat.

He almost marked the occasion in style by scoring directly from a free-kick to make it 2-2, but struck the post – although it allowed Kevin Molino to convert the rebound.

He has now been named in Dwight Yorke’s squad for this summer's finals.

With the finals sharing the international football stage with the UEFA Women’s Euros this summer, there is plenty to look forward to.

What is the background?

Held on a regular basis since the first edition in 1991, the CONCACAF Gold Cup is the top continental tournament for North America, Central America and the Caribbean – the regions equivalent to the Copa America or the European Championships.

Mexico are the tournament's most successful country, having lifted the title on nine occasions. USMNT have also had plenty of historic success by winning seven titles, most recently in 2021.

Although the confederation has 41 members, the Gold Cup has occasionally featured invited guest nations as participants. This time Asian side Saudi Arabia will feature, drawn in the same group as the USA and Trinidad and Tobago.

USMNT qualified for tournament through their performance in the CONCACAF Nations League. By progressing to the last four of the 2024/25 tournament, Pochettino’s team guaranteed their place at the finals.

It was also Turner’s third outing at the tournament, having featured in both the 2021 and 2023 finals. In the former, he recorded five clean sheets in six games, picking up the tournament’s best goalkeeper award as USA won the title with a 1-0 win over Mexico.

Richards has featured at the Nations League finals, where he scored against Canada as his team won the final, and at the Copa America. However, this will be the defender's first appearance at the Gold Cup finals.

Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, qualified convincingly for the competition with a 6-1 win on aggregate over Cuba in the preliminary rounds.

The tournament got underway with Mexico facing Dominican Republic on Saturday, 14th June. All three Palace players were set to come up against each other in the first match, when USA faced Trinidad and Tobago in San Jose.

Alongside USA Trinidad and Tobago and Saudi Arabia, Haiti complete Group D. The top two sides from the four groups will qualify for the quarter-finals.

From that point it is a straight knock-out tournament. If the scores are level after 90 minutes, extra-time and - if required - penalties will decide who progresses.

How have the USMNT prepared for the tournament?

Pochettino’s team suffered a surprise defeat in March’s international window to exit the Nations League at the semi-final stage, going down 1-0 to Panama.

They were subsequently beaten 2-1 by Canada in the third-place play-off. They then faced two friendly games against Turkiye and Switzerland earlier this month.

Despite an early Jack McGlynn goal, USA went down 2-1 to the Crescent-Stars. They were then well beaten 4-0 by Switzerland in Nashville, meaning they head into the finals looking for a first win in four games. Richards remained on the bench for that one, while Turner completed the full 90 minutes.

How have Trinidad and Tobago prepared for the tournament?

Following their defeat to Jamaica in West London in the Unity Cup, Trinidad and Tobago faced Ghana in a third-place play-off, where Cardines was an unused substitute in a 4-0 defeat.

He then continued to be a part of the Trinidad and Tobago side, ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Saint Kitts and Nevis and Costa Rica; he was an unused substitute in the 6-2 win over Saint Kitts and Nevis, but did start against Costa Rica.

Cardines played the entire first-half before being subbed off at half-time against the group leaders in what turned out to be a narrow 2-1 loss.

Where did Gold Cup matches take place?

USA is also hosting the tournament, with the majority of the fixtures taking place along the West Coast.

This is to avoid a clash with the FIFA Club World Cup, held at the same time, which predominantly takes place on the East Coast of the country.

Canada’s Vancouver will also host one group game. The final will take place at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

In terms of the USMNT fixtures, group games take place at San Jose, Austin and Arlington, while Trinidad and Tobago also play in Houston and Paradise, Nevada.

How could I watch in the UK?

Pay-per-view channel Premier Sports secured the CONCACAF Gold Cup broadcast rights in the United Kingdom.

They broadcasted all 31 matches. Premier Sports is available via both Sky TV (channels 419 and 420) and Virgin TV (as channels 551 and 552) as well as on Amazon Prime as an add-on subscription.

You can also stream online via the app from £11.99 per month on a minimum 12-month term.

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