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Watch: Miazga goal caps USA win over Nicaragua, clinches first in Gold Cup group

Watch the highlights of all the goals and key plays as the USA beats Nicaragua 3-0 in the CONCACAF Gold Cup to win its group.

SI.com Staff

Watch: Miazga goal caps USA win over Nicaragua, clinches first in Gold Cup group
Watch: Miazga goal caps USA win over Nicaragua, clinches first in Gold Cup group /

The U.S. men's national team captured first place in its Gold Cup group doing just enough to edge Panama.

Taking on Nicaragua for the first time in both nations' soccer histories in Cleveland, the USA won 3-0 on Saturday, with Matt Miazga's 87th-minute goal giving the USA the tiebreaker over Los Canaleros at the top of Group B on a dramatic night.

Joe Corona and Kelyn Rowe also scored for the USA, which entered the match knowing it needed to equal Panama's 3-0 win over Martinique earlier in the day to maintain its table standing. Two missed penalties–by Corona and Dom Dwyer–didn't help the cause, but Miazga's header off Graham Zusi's free kick did the trick, and the USA will face a third-place group finisher in Philadelphia on Wednesday, while Panama is forced to meet Group A winner Costa Rica. Had the USA only won 2-0, it would've faced Los Ticos in a much more difficult quarterfinal.

USA manager Bruce Arena made a complete lineup change from Wednesday's narrow 3-2 win over Martinique, ushering in 11 new faces. Knowing it needed goals, the USA pressured from the onset trying to find Dwyer behind the back line. Dwyer, who scored in a pre-Gold Cup friendly vs. Ghana and again in the opener vs. Panama, was seeking to become the third player in U.S. history to score in his opening three caps, and he missed his chance with his later PK miss.

It was Rowe who put the USA's first chance on frame, firing a volley from the edge of the box on frame only to have it saved in the ninth minute.

Nicaragua found a couple of half-chances in a short spurt a few minutes later, with Luis Galeano forcing a Dax McCarty turnover and firing from long range, sending his chance well wide of Bill Hamid's goal.

On the ensuing U.S. possession, the Americans nearly struck twice, with Alejandro Bedoya's blocked chance then followed up by a Dwyer chance which also was blocked before it could be sent on frame.

A minute later, Rowe fired again from long distance, trying to catch goalkeeper Justo Lorente napping, but he put his 20-yard chance into the side netting.

Zusi had the USA's best chance the early going in the 21st minute, completing a winding run through Nicaragua's midfield and defense only to put his left-footed blast right at Lorente, who made a confident save.

Off a U.S. set piece, Chris Pontius tried an audacious bicycle kick, but he directed it wide of the net–and was whistled for a high boot–and the match remained scoreless.

The USA took a needed lead in the 37th minute through Corona. Bedoya set him up with a cutback cross from the right, and Corona took his time, weaved around defenders and had a deflected shot beat Lorente to give the USA a 1-0 lead. 

The U.S. blew a golden opportunity to take a 2-0 lead five minutes into the second half after Dwyer was taken down in the box. He had his ensuing penalty kick saved by Lorente, with his powerful attempt put out of play.

The Americans found that second goal soon after, though, and it came through Rowe. Bedoya sprung him down the left channel with a pinpoint pass, and his deflected shot from close range beat Lorente to make it 2-0 in the 56th minute.

Just after the hour mark, again the USA had a chance to score from the penalty spot, and again it was denied. This time it was Corona who took the spot kick after a sliding defender handled the ball when trying to mark Bedoya, but his poor effort was hit right at Lorente, who also denied Pontius's chance on the rebound.

Nicaragua put a rare chance on frame in the 74th minute through Jorge Hurtado, who had a rip from distance earmarked for the lower left-hand corner, but Hamid was all over it, making a diving save and covering the rebound.

The USA was given the gift of a man advantage in the 85th minute, when Luis Copete was sent off for his second yellow card. He bodychecked Juan Agudelo in the final third, with the U.S. forward looking to create.

The U.S. took full advantage on the ensuing free kick. Zusi sent in a perfect ball for Miazga, and the center back made good on his wide open header to score that all-important third goal that vaulted the U.S. into first in the group.

Here are the rosters for both teams:

USA

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (New York City FC)

DEFENDERS: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Matt Miazga (Chelsea), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

MIDFIELDERS: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

FORWARDS: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)

Nicaragua

GOALKEEPERS: Justo Lorente (UNAN FC), Henry Maradiaga (Real Estelí FC), Diedrich Tellez (Diriangen FC)

DEFENDERS: Luis Copete (Comerciantes Unidos), Cyril Errington (Real Estelí FC), Oscar Lopez (Managua FC), Henry Niño (Jaco Rays FC), Josue Quijano (Real Estelí FC), Manuel Rosas (Real Estelí FC), Erick Tellez (Diriangen FC), Bismarck Veliz (Chinandega FC)

MIDFIELDERS: Daniel Cadena (Njarðvíkur), Elvis Figueroa (Real Estelí FC), Luis Galeano (Real Estelí FC), Bryan Garcia (Real Estelí FC), Marlon Lopez (Real Estelí FC), Maykel Montiel (UNAN FC), Bismarck Montiel (Managua FC), Luis Peralta (CD Walter Ferretti)

FORWARDS: Juan Barrera (Comunicaciones FC), Carlos Chavarria (Real Estelí FC), Jorge Hurtado (CD Walter Ferretti), Eulises Pavon (CD Suchitepéquez)

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