Thanks to a vital late flurry of goals in the final 10 minutes on Thursday, the USMNT carries a healthy 3-0 aggregate lead into the second leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal match on Monday.
The game represents the first time the United States will return to Trinidad and Tobago since the 2017 horror-show in Couva, which saw the U.S. fail to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Thus, the solid aggregate advantage is a massive achievement to avoid any pre-match narrative of another potential humiliation in this nation.
Through 80 minutes in Austin last week, it felt as if the U.S. was headed to a nervy second leg as the game remained scoreless despite Trinidad and Tobago playing a man down for the majority of the contest. Yet late goals from Ricardo Pepi, Antonee Robinson, and Gio Reyna gave the USMNT critical breathing room for the second leg on the road.
Below are the confirmed lineups for both teams based on the latest news leading up to Monday's match, which would seal qualification to next summer's Copa America should the U.S. advance on aggregate.
MORE: Recap the first leg as the USMNT used a furious finish to down Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago vs USA lineups, team news
As he hinted in his pre-match press conference, Gregg Berhalter has largely stuck with the same lineup that was deployed in the first leg, with a few changes.
Players like Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest could have ben prime candidates for rotation thanks to their heavy minutes load at club level this season, but they are retained, while Malik Tillman and Kevin Paredes were replaced after a poor showing in the first leg.
Below are the confirmed starting lineups for both teams ahead of their match at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
Trinidad and Tobago starting 11 vs USA
Trinidad and Tobago (5-3-2, right to left): D. Smith (GK) — S. Gomez, A. Jones, David, J. Garcia, Raymond — Gill, Rampersad, Phillips, Moore — N. James.
- Out: None.
- Suspended: Noah Powder.
A second booking for Noah Powder before halftime of the first leg left Trinidad and Tobago a man down for a long period of the match, and he will be suspended for this second leg as well.
Knowing they need goals to have a chance at a miraculous comeback, head coach Angus Eve could have sacrificed a midfielder from the bunkered 5-4-1 in the first leg, but instead he retains the same formation and much of the same personnel, including the same five-man back line.
Neveal Hackshaw was booked in the first leg after coming off the bench at halftime, which triggered a yellow card suspension for accumulation.
USA starting 11 vs Trinidad and Tobago
United States (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Turner (GK) — 2. Dest, 3. Carter-Vickers, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson — 14. de la Torre, 6. Musah — 7. Reyna, 11. B. Aaronson — 20. Balogun, 9. Pepi.
- Out: Christian Pulisic (hamstring), Tim Weah (hamstring), Tyler Adams (hamstring), Weston McKennie (knee), Johnny Cardoso (ankle)
- Suspended: None.
Ricardo Pepi comes in alongside Folarin Balogun, suggesting more of the 4-2-2-2 that was criticized across much of Thursday's match. Also entering the lineup are Brenden Aaronson and Luca de la Torre in midfield.
A trio of hamstring injuries has kept three regular starters out of the squad in Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, and Tyler Adams. Weston McKennie took a beating in the first leg and has departed camp with knee inflammation, returning to Juventus early to recover. Johnny Cardoso was scratched before the first leg due to an ankle injury, leaving the midfield extremely thin.
Trinidad and Tobago vs USA live stream, TV channel
- Date: Monday, November 20, 2023
- Time (ET): 7 p.m.
- TV channel (English): TNT
- Streaming (English): Fubo, Max (formerly HBO Max)
- TV channel (Spanish): Universo
- Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, Peacock
While the rest of the CONCACAF Nations League is broadcast on Paramount+ via the confederation's rights deal with CBS, the United States matches are shown on TNT as U.S. Soccer's deal with its domestic broadcaster takes precedent.
Meanwhile, a Spanish-language broadcast can be found on Universo, and streamed on Peacock.
Both English and Spanish broadcasts can be streamed on Fubo.
Trinidad and Tobago vs USA betting odds, lines
| T&T win | Draw | USA win | Both teams to score Y / N | Over / Under 3.5 goals | USA -2.5 | TRI +2.5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings (USA) | +1400 | +950 | -1400 | +195 / -285 | +115 / -165 | -110 | -130 |
