Forward Jesús Ferreira, left, fights for the ball with St. Kitts and Nevis defender Gerard Williams on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis. Ferreira ended the night with three goals.
The win was led by three goals from forward Jesús Ferreira.
The U.S. men's national team defeated St. Kitts and Nevis 6-0 at St. Louis' CityPark on Wednesday night. The match was the U.S. team's second in the group stage of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, a biennual tournament to determine the continental champion of North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The U.S. got going early, scoring three goals in the first 16 minutes of the match. Interim head coach B.J. Callaghan credited at least part of that success to the more than 21,000 fans packed into CityPark stadium.
With many of the crowd decked out in red, white and blue, chants of "USA! USA!" started as soon as the kickoff, accompanied by a drumbeat blasting from the American Outlaws fan section of the stadium.
Speaking to the press after the match, Callaghan said his players had hinted at CityPark's raucous atmosphere.
“We were anticipating that, and we knew we could use that to our advantage from minute one, and we did," he added.
Midfielder Djordje Mihailovic scored two goals, while defender Bryan Reynolds had one. The standout of the night was forward Jesús Ferreira, who had a hat trick by minute 50 of the match.
“A complete performance tonight, in my mind, from Jesús,” Callaghan said. “He’s a relentless player.”
The win moves the U.S. team to the top of its group stage standings, ahead of Jamaica, which earlier in the night beat Trinidad and Tobago. The U.S. had played Jamaica to a 1-1 draw in a first group stage match.
The U.S. team's final match in group play will be at 6 p.m. Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago in Charlotte, North Carolina.
See photos from the match below from photojournalist Tristen Rouse:
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
LEFT: Fans place their hands over their hearts for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis. RIGHT: Jack Gietl screams while wearing American-flag themed face paint, after the match on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis.
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
Midfielder Djordje Mihailovic lines up a shot at the goal during the USMNT’s Gold Cup match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis. Mihailovic ended the night with two goals, scoring the USMNT’s first and last points of the night.
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
Fans celebrate in reaction to a goal by Jesús Ferreira during the USMNT’s Gold Cup match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis.
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
Forward Jesús Ferreira, center, battles for the ball with Raheem Somersall, right, and Jameel Ible during the USMNT’s Gold Cup match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis.
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
Forward Brandon Vazquez runs past a packed crowd of fans during the USMNT’s Gold Cup match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis. More than 21,000 fans attended the game.
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
Forward Julian Gressel looks on from the sidelines during the USMNT’s Gold Cup match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis.
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
Midfielder Aidan Morris rises up to head the ball during the USMNT’s Gold Cup match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis.
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
Defender Malique Roberts, bottom left, stops a ball kicked by midfielder Djordje Mihailovic during the USMNT’s Gold Cup match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis.
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
A trainers assist Gerard Williams, bottom center, who had been injured while playing during the USMNT’s Gold Cup match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis. Williams was able to get up and leave the field on his own.
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
Defender Gerard Williams yells toward his St. Kitts and Nevis teammates during the USMNT’s Gold Cup match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis.
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
Forward Alex Zendejas, left, dribbles the ball away form Andre Burley during the USMNT’s Gold Cup match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis.
Tristen Rouse
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St. Louis Public Radio
Young fans beg USMNT players for autographs as the athletes leave the field, having defeated St. Kitts and Nevis 6-0 during their group stage Gold Cup match on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at CityPark in St. Louis.
