USMNT captain Michael Bradley (Photo : Reuters)
Defending champions Team USA will face Haiti during the second round of group classifications in the 2015 Gold Cup. Their match is set on Friday at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough after the Honduras-Panama encounter.
Jürgen Klinsmann's wards turned back a gritty challenge by Los Catrachos on opening day, 2-1, courtesy of a double from Seattle Sounders' forward Clint Dempsey, as reported by The Guardian.
The Americans dominated the whole match even as they looked diffident in some stretches behind the sterling plays of team captain Michael Bradley and Dempsey.
Internal controversy struck USMNT as Dempsey was replaced by Bradley for the squad's captainship before the tournament began, but both men did not allow it to affect their games.
Meanwhile, Haiti settled for a 1-1 draw with Panama hours before the said game as inexperienced forward Duckens Nazon equalized it late, according to ESPN.
It was only the Stade Lavallois standout's fifth cap for Marc Collat's team, but he showed poise under pressure to put the Haitians on the board and escape with a tie.
However, Le Rouge et Bleu is not expected to stand a chance against the United States this time as Klinsmann's men try to regain their true form as the tourney progresses.
Prediction: Team USA will run away with the win, 4-0. Les Grenadiers is the weakest team in Group A and they are up against the strongest team in the tournament. Just a case of too much firepower for USMNT.
United States starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Guzan; Chandler, Alvarado, Johnson, Garza; Yedlin, Morales, Diskerud, Bradley; Jóhannsson, Dempsey
Haiti starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Placide; Pierre, Aveska, Jérôme, Goreux; Guerrier, Louis, Millien; Marcelin, Belfort, Maurice
