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USA vs St. Kitts and Nevis score, result, highlights as USMNT rides Jesus Ferreira hat-trick to dominant win

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Kyle Bonn
• 24 min read
Jesus Ferreira and Djordje Mihailovic of USA
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The U.S. needed a convincing win over St. Kitts & Nevis not only for competitive purposes, but also for optics. By trouncing the Sugar Boyz 6-0 in the second group stage match of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Americans got both.

Jesus Ferreira bagged a hat-trick to bring him into double digits on the international stage, while Djordje Mihailovic and Bryan Reynolds added goals to round out the scoreline.

In truth, it could have been even more as the U.S. was wasteful in the second half, but the Gold Cup hosts still crafted a convincing result to put themselves in a commanding position atop the Group A standings. Winning the group is largely preferential, because finishing second would see them likely to draw the same side of the bracket as Canada and Mexico.

While Ferreira was clinical in front of goal, Mihailovic and Reynolds were the stars. They were brilliant in build-up, carving the Caribbean side to pieces with pace and precision. Mihailovic finished with two goals and two assists as he played the full 90 minutes in his first USMNT start since 2019.

The U.S. will now finish the group stage in Charlotte, N.C., on Sunday against Trinidad & Tobago. As long as Jamaica doesn’t top a U.S. victory by more than three goals in its match against St. Kitts, the Americans will win the group.

Watch highlights in USA:

USA vs St. Kitts and Nevis final score

  Final Goal scorers
USA 6 Mihailovic (12', 80'), Reynolds (14'), Ferreira (16', 26', 50')
St. Kitts & Nevis 0 –

Starting lineups:

USA (4-3-3, right to left): 18. Johnson (GK) — 5. Reynolds (Gressel, 76'), 4. Miazga, 20. Neal, 15. D. Jones — 8. Sands (A. Morris, 57'), 6. Busio (Sonora, 46'), 14. Mihailovic — 17. Zendejas, 9. Ferreira (Vazquez, 57'), 11. Cowell (Roldan, 68').

St. Kitts & Nevis (4-2-3-1, right to left): 16. Archibald (GK) — 2. Roberts, 3. G. Williams, 4. Burley, 5. Ible (Lewis, 71') — 14. Sommersall (Mitchum, 63'), 6. Maynard — 11. Tyrell (Sterling-James, 63'), 19. Sawyers, 7. T. Williams (Bertie, 63') — 16. Freeman (Hazel, 71').

Group A standings

Team Pts W-D-L Goal
Diff.		 Goals
Scored
1. USA 4 1-1-0 +6 7
2. Jamaica 4 1-1-0 +3 5
3. Trinidad & Tobago 3 1-0-1 0 4
4. St. Kitts & Nevis 0 0-0-2 -9 0

The Sporting News followed the USA vs St. Kitts & Nevis match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.

USA vs St. Kitts and Nevis live updates, highlights, commentary from Gold Cup 2023

FINAL: USA 6-0 St. Kitts and Nevis

It's a comprehensive, dominant performance from the United States, which was exactly what they were looking to accomplish. Jesus Ferreira got a triple, and both other goal scorers Djordje Mihailovic and Bryan Reynolds were exceptional as well.

It was no contest in the end, as the Sugar Boyz were simply outmatched in every phase of the game. Sean Johnson barely even broke a sweat, and the U.S. controlled the match from start to finish. Exactly what the doctor ordered.

If you're looking for negatives, there are always a few, as no team will produce a perfect performance. Alex Zendejas was quiet for the second game in a row after struggling against Jamaica as well, and BJ Callaghan could potentially call on others in the squad for the remainder of the Gold Cup.

USA vs St. Kitts and Nevis: Second Half

90+3 min: Alan Sonora forces Julani Archibald into the easiest of his nine saves tonight, with a tame curling shot right into the bread basket. Archibald has been sensational tonight, despite the scoreline.

86th min: Chance, USA! Oh my god. Oh no. Cristian Roldan pounces on a free ball in the St. Kitts & Nevis penalty area, and fires a screamer directly into the crotch of Gerard Williams. I mean...it's a direct hit, the battleship is sunk. Williams is down in a ton of pain, which...yeah. Give him as long as he needs, goodness.

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80th min: GOAL! USA! Beautifully worked, as Djordje Mihailovic gets his second of the game! Cristian Roldan gets a wonderful switch on the left, and as he's all alone, it forces Julani Archibald to come off his line to challenge. Roldan sees the goal is open but his window is closed, so he squares to the middle for Djordje Mihailovic, who finds a pathway through the trees and slots the ball home.

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77th min: Chance, USA! Jalen Neal is the latest U.S. player to miss a wide-open chance as he puts a free header off a corner over the crossbar. He had nobody anywhere near him and somehow couldn't put that on target. The USMNT has been quite wasteful in this second half.

74th min: Andre Burley absorbs a booking to dump Bryan Reynolds to the turf on a U.S. counter-attack. The fans want a red for a last-man foul, but the yellow is the right call as there was help arriving. Mihailovic sends a similar free-kick delivery as the last one to the far post, but Aidan Morris's header is poor.

Julian Gressel is the last man off the bench for the U.S. as he replaces an electric Bryan Reynolds.

72nd min: Chance, USA! Oh no, a free header from Brandon Vazquez misses wide! That's a wide-open chance for the FC Cincinnati man, who gets completely free and lines up Djordje Mihailovic's free-kick to the far post. Ultimately, he sends it wide of the woodwork with the goal gaping. That's a regrettable miss.

69th min: Jameel Ible is the second Sugar Boyz player to get a yellow card, booked for scything Alex Zendejas to the ground, giving the U.S. a dangerous free-kick on the right edge of the St. Kitts & Nevis penalty area. The delivery from Sonora is an ugly line drive that fails to beat the first man.

66th min: Chance, USA! Alan Sonora is the latest American international to be denied by Julani Archibald! He takes a free-kick that's perfect tracking for the inside of the near post, but Archibald gets across to palm it away over the end line!

Cade Cowell is brought off, with Cristian Roldan entering the field.

60th min: Chance, USA! Another big save by Julani Archibald! An absolutely perfect cross-field delivery from DeJuan Jones on the left side falls straight on a platter for Bryan Reynolds at the far post, but his finish is denied by Archibald who gets across to make a great stop.

Yet again, as he has after seemingly every big save, Archibald goes down asking for treatment, milking more time off the clock. It's all a bit much, and has become kind of a trend.

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56th min: The game's first yellow card is shown to Tyquan Tyrell for a late tackle in midfield. James Sands is withdrawn for Aidan Morris, while Jesus Ferreira is brought off after picking up his hat-trick, replaced for the second time this tournament by Brandon Vazquez.

54th min: Oh dear, Alan Sonora was completely unmarked at the far post, without a defender within five yards as he got the ball from Alejandro Zendejas, but his first touch lets him down and the ball rolls straight to the goalkeeper. He has an easy tap-in if he can collect that cleanly.

50th min: GOAL! USA! Jesus Ferreira has his hat-trick! He gets it from Djordje Mihailovic down the left, and his first touch expertly puts him past the defender for an easy finish on the doorstep. That's a perfect example of how a first touch is so important.

The U.S. is now firmly entrenched atop the Group A roster on goal differential. Ferreira becomes just the second U.S. international with multiple hat tricks in competitive action, following fellow Texas resident forward Clint Dempsey.

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49th min: Yikes. A really ugly and dangerous challenge from Tiquanny Williams on DeJuan Jones, as he goes to the ground with a scissor tackle that thankfully Jones escapes from uninjured. He has a wry smile on his face, knowing that was probably a red card challenge that went completely unpunished.

48th min: The U.S. are straight into the attack out of halftime as Alex Zendejas wins a corner. Jalen Neal rises to meet the delivery and heads it to the feet of Cade Cowell, but his volley attempt goes wide of the far top corner. High degree of difficulty for Cowell there as he just stuck his foot out at it.

Kickoff: USMNT head coach BJ Callaghan makes one halftime substitution as Gianluca Busio is withdrawn for Alan Sonora, who started the Jamaica game. Hopefully Busio isn't injured, as he was great in the first half, picking up two assists.

HALFTIME: USA 4-0 St. Kitts & Nevis

There's no added time from the official, which is a pretty hilarious decision from the official given that there were a few injuries and stoppages in that first half.

In all, the United States can be proud of their performance through the opening 45 minutes. They didn't allow the game to drag on scoreless and allow doubts to creep into the performance, and instead got the onslaught going early and often.

Djordje Mihailovic was exceptional in midfield, and Jesus Ferreira provided a constant danger up front. Bryan Reynolds scored an absolute screamer, and he grew in influence down the right flank as the half went on, and Jalen Neal again impressed both in possession and defensively. An excellent performance by the U.S. overall, and they'll want to add more in the second half to build a goal differential advantage over Jamaica going into the last match of the group stage.

USA vs St. Kitts and Nevis: First Half

44th min: There's a stoppage of play as St. Kitts & Nevis right-back Malique Roberts is flattened by a wild aerial challenge from DeJuan Jones. It looked like Jones caught Roberts in the bottom of the jaw with his elbow. Not intentional, but definitely out of control. Like Mihailovic earlier, Jones escapes a yellow card when he probably could have been given one.

41st min: Chance, USA! Wow, WHAT a save by Julani Archibald to deny Ferreira again! This one's the best of the bunch, as Bryan Reynolds puts a pinpoint cross right on a platter for Ferreira, and his sliding finish is stopped by Archibald who makes himself big and takes it right off his face. Djordje Mihailovic has a good look on the follow-up, but his effort is blocked.

It did look like there might have been a handball on the block, which Mihailovic does ask for initially, but the referee doesn't make a call.

38th min: Chance, USA! Jesus Ferreira is denied his hat-trick by Julani Archibald, who does well to get down and stop a cross from Bryan Reynolds deep down the U.S. right, and while the spill is pounced on by Ferreira, Archibald recovers enough to smother the shot. Ferreira's last goal got him to double digits in a U.S. shirt, the fastest to do so in national team history.

36th min: Chance, USA! Djordje Mihailovic comes very close to chipping the St. Kitts & Nevis goalkeeper after being threaded through vertically from deep by Jalen Neal, but can't quite get it on target! That's good goalkeeping from Julani Archibald, who had to come off his line to beat Mihailovic to the ball.

32nd min: In a rare attacking possession, St. Kitts & Nevis work the ball well into the penalty area, and are only turned away by a blocked cross off the foot of Matt Miazga. They had built well down the right side of the 18-yard box but were denied by the U.S. defense at the last moment.

26th min: GOAL! USA! Jesus Ferreira has a second! This one is created in midfield by Djordje Mihailovic, who somehow, incredibly, feeds a perfectly weighted vertical ball through while being tripped and sent flying to the ground. Ferreira times his run perfectly and unlocks the St. Kitts & Nevis defense, and then finishes one-on-one through the legs of Julani Archibald. It's a rout, and that's exactly what the U.S. needed.

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21st min: Chance, USA! Jesus Ferreira forces an excellent save from Julani Archibald who has to palm a rip from the FC Dallas man over the bar. Great stop. He then makes another good one as the U.S. works another effort on target from the ensuing corner.

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19th min: Djordje Mihailovic is late to a 50-50 ball in midfield and absolutely pulverizes Tiquanny Williams in the head with his shoulder. Somehow, miraculously, he gets away without picking up a yellow card. That's a very dangerous challenge.

Then St. Kitts & Nevis rip the set-piece just inches over the bar as Sean Johnson can only watch it flash on by. A close call.

16th min: GOAL! USA! The goals are pouring on now for the USMNT! Jesus Ferreira schools Jameel Ible one-on-one, and the striker finishes cooly with his right from a tight angle. What a start for the United States, in a game they need to put up a big total!

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14th min: GOAL! USA! Bryan Reynolds has his first international goal, and the U.S. is flying! It's an absolute BEAUTY, with the 19-year-old rifling a howitzer through traffic inside the near post. What a strike!

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12th min: GOAL! USA! Djordje Mihailovic has the first goal of the evening! It's an all-important early one to get things started and avoid any frustrating moments with the game scoreless.

It's created down the right flank with Gianluca Busio getting a vertical feed. With Jesus Ferreira drawing defenders deep towards the end line, Busio instead cuts it back to Mihailovic who's unmarked at the top of the six-yard box, and he roofs it.

10th min: The U.S. again tries to play right through the middle, with Jesus Ferreira and Djordje Mihailovic playing a one-two, but the latter is blocked off on the return ball. There's just too many red St. Kitts & Nevis jerseys huddled in the low block to play through the middle right now.

7th min: Chance, USA! The United States takes three or four shots but they're all blocked! A few lucky deflections lead to the ball falling right to Djordje Mihailovic's feet, and he lets fly but it's blocked. Cade Cowell has two follow-ups and both don't make it through the trees. There are huge shouts from U.S. players for hand ball but there's nothing in it and the referee waves it away.

Defender Girard Williams is down needing treatment and takes his time returning to play. Expect frustrating time wasting tactics from St. Kitts & Nevis all game, it's just the way these games often go.

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3rd min: The U.S. has looked to go right at St. Kitts & Nevis, but so far unable to put anything positive together. Gianluca Busio commits a foul in midfield that momentarily halts play, which the Caribben nation will look to milk all the way through. Jalen Neal saves a poor lateral pass from Matt Miazga from being anything more harmful.

Kickoff: The match is under way in St. Louis! A big win is the only satisfactory result for the United States, from both a competitive standpoint to build a goal differential lead, and from an optical standpoint against such a weaker opponent. Can they give fans what they want, with an overwhelming victory by a large margin?

USA vs St. Kitts and Nevis: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more

5 mins to kick: Wearing the captain's armband tonight is goalkeeper Sean Johnson, as the 34-year-old earns his 12th international cap. Many will be left wishing that young Gaga Slonina could have been deployed in this match, but instead a veteran gets the start as a nod to his time served, understanding that Johnson, a longtime servant of the USMNT squad who has ridden the bench on many occasions, may not have many more chances to play for the national team.

18 mins to kick: The United States is the most populous country in the CONCACAF federation, while St. Kitts & Nevis is the least populous sovereign nation recognized by FIFA in the region. Any slip in performance tonight would be an embarrassment for a number of reasons, and that's a big one.

36 mins to kick: It looked like the U.S. might need a big number just to keep pace with Jamaica's huge haul against Trinidad & Tobago, with the score 3-0 at halftime, but the Reggae Boyz failed to put away their chances in the second half and "only" managed a 4-1 victory. That presents a big opportunity for the United States to take the lead in the group with an overwhelming win tonight.

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50 mins to kick: St. Kitts & Nevis head coach Austin Huggins has made just two changes to his starting lineup from the 3-0 defeat to Trinidad & Tobago, bringing in 35-year-old defender Gerard Williams for his 80th international cap, while also introducing 25-year-old Tyquan Terrell to the wing.

1 hour 5 mins to kick: The U.S. lineup is in, and interim head coach BJ Callaghan has decided to rotate the side heavily. Sean Johnson will get the start in goal to spell Matt Turner, and earns the captain's armband, while young prospects Cade Cowell and Jalen Neal come into the starting lineup. One man who retains his place up top is Jesus Ferreira, who starts at striker, leaving Saturday's hero Brandon Vazquez on the bench to start.

19-year-old center-back Neal is one to watch, as Callaghan gave him a shout-out as one of the more impressive players in Gold Cup camp so far.

1 hour 19 mins to kick: We already knew that goal difference would be important in the group standings after the U.S. drew with Jamaica, but now it will be even more vital for the U.S. to run up the score against St. Kitts & Nevis if they are able.

Jamaica, who are real threats to win the Gold Cup for the first time in their history, are pummeling Trinidad & Tobago 3-0 thanks to a brace from Demarai Gray, who is making just his second international appearance for the Reggae Boyz on his birthday. It's only halftime.

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1 hour 35 mins to kick: There are reports that the United States will play international friendlies against Oman and Uzbekistan in September, which will be Gregg Berhalter's first matches back as permanent head coach of the USMNT.

The reports claim that the U.S. had friendlies lined up against South American giants Brazil and Argentina, but those were scuppered when CONMEBOL decided to begin 2026 World Cup qualifying in the September window. Oman is ranked 73rd in the world by FIFA, while Uzbekistan is right behind them at 74th.

1 hour 50 mins to kick: The United States has never played St. Kitts & Nevis before tonight. They haven't failed to beat a first-time opponent from CONCACAF since 1988, 35 years ago. Considering even a slender victory would be considered a disappointment, dropped points in this match would be considered near-catastrophic for the U.S.

2 hours to kickoff: USMNT first-choice captain Tyler Adams is still recovering from a hamstring injury that cost him the final third of the season, so he got to enjoy a nice day out at a different sport, walking with the golfers at the Travelers Championship last weekend. Seems like he had a pretty good time!

USA vs St. Kitts and Nevis lineups

While U.S. head coach BJ Callaghan might have been motivated to rotate his squad for this match against the weakest opponent in the group, he could resist that urge following the draw with Jamaica, knowing that goal difference will likely be an important deciding factor in who tops the Group A standings. Still, some players from the Jamaica game did not put in performances that warrant more faith, and changes could be made on that front.

Defender Miles Robinson missed the opener with his calf injury sustained in the Nations League semifinal, and while Callaghan confirmed he is available for this match, the decision was made to preserve his health for future games. Jalen Neal did well off the bench against Jamaica and he earns a spot in the squad after Callaghan gave him a shout-out in the press conference.

At striker, Jesus Ferreira is considered the regular starter of those in this squad, and he retains his place despite Brandon Vazquez securing the late equalizer against Jamaica on Saturday. Cade Cowell was also fantastic as a substitute in that game, and he earns a starting spot here, potentially snatching more playing time moving forward in the competition, especially if Jordan Morris misses time with a knee injury, having skipped training this week for treatment.

USA confirmed starting lineup (4-3-3): Johnson (GK) — Reynolds, Miazga, Neal, D. Jones — Sands, Busio, Mihailovic — Zendejas, Ferreira, Cowell.

USA subs (12): Turner (GK), Slonina (GK), Robinson, Long, Yedlin, Tolkin, Sonora, A. Morris, Roldan, Gressel, J. Morris, Vazquez.

The key man in the St. Kitts & Nevis squad is Cardiff City playmaker Romaine Sawyers, who was a regular in midfield for the Championship side. The 31-year-old started the season further forward, but was moved back to the middle of the pitch and carved out a role for the club, starting 13 of the last 17 league games.

This team struggles mightily to generate goal-scoring chances, but 21-year-old winger Tiquanny Williams scored the team's critical goal in Gold Cup qualifying to help them past French Guiana, his second international goal in seven caps. Striker Keithroy Freeman has six international goals in 13 caps, the joint-most of anyone on the squad.

St. Kitts & Nevis confirmed starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Archibald (GK) — Roberts, G. Williams, Burley, Ible — Sommersall, Maynard — Terrell, Sawyers, T. Williams — Freeman.

St. Kitts & Nevis subs (12): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

How to watch USA vs St. Kitts and Nevis

Here's how to watch the USA vs. St. Kitts & Nevis match in the United States and Canada.

USA

  • Date: Wed, June 28, 2023
  • Time (ET): 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
  • TV Channel: FS1, UniMas, TUDN
  • Streaming: Fubo, Fox Sports site/app, TUDN site/app

The match between the United States and St. Kitts & Nevis will be televised in the United States on FS1 (English) and on UniMas and TUDN (Spanish). All three channels are available to stream on Fubo, which is offers a free trial for new users.

Subscribers to cable, satellite or telco packages can use their credentials to access a stream on the Fox Sports or TUDN site and app.

MORE: Recap the draw with Jamaica as Brandon Vazquez rescues a point in Chicago

Canada

  • Date: Wed, June 28, 2023
  • Time (ET): 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
  • TV channel: Telus Optik TV (Channel 980)
  • Streaming: Fubo Canada, OneSoccer site/app

The match will be televised in Canada on Telus Optik TV (Channel 980), where viewers can watch the OneSoccer broadcast.

It will also be streamed on Fubo Canada, as well as on the OneSoccer site and app for subscribers.

MORE: Recap the draw with Jamaica as Brandon Vazquez rescues a point in Chicago

USA vs St. Kitts and Nevis betting odds

The United States are absolutely overwhelming favorites for this match, so much so that sportsbooks have fewer offerings for this match compared to most other Gold Cup games. The U.S. will be expected not only to win, but to win heavily.

These kind of expectations come with obvious pitfalls, as there's really no true victory for the favorite in this scenario. Either the United States does as expected and trounces the tiny Caribbean nation, or they disappoint.

  USA
win		 Draw St. Kitts
win		 Both teams
to score Y / N		 Over / Under
4.5 goals		 USA
handicap		 SKN
handicap
Caesars
(USA)		 -8000 +1200 +4000 +140 / — +100 / -130 -150
(-3.5)		 +120
(+3.5)
Sports
Interaction
(Canada)		 -10000 +1600 +4900 — / — -179 / +139 -133
(-4.5)		 +105
(+4.5)
Author(s)
Author Photo
Kyle Bonn
Kyle Bonn is a soccer content producer for The Sporting News.
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United States
St. Kitts and Nevis
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