On This Day in 2017, Morris's Double Saves the US's Gold Cup Campaign Against Martinique
When Bruce Arena returned to the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July 2017, twelve years after his last tournament triumph, the United States arrived not as defending champions but as a team in transition, carrying the weight of mediocrity and the burden of rebuilding. The Americans hadn't won the regional championship since 2007, managing just one title in a decade while Mexico claimed three of the last four tournaments.
This was Arena's "B" team by necessity and design—Christian Pulisic, Michael Bradley, and Clint Dempsey remained in Europe, saving their legs for World Cup qualifying battles that would determine the nation's fate in Russia. Instead, Arena assembled a roster featuring 13 players with fewer than 10 international caps and 11 players under 26, creating opportunity.
The opening match in Nashville against Panama revealed the growing pains of this experimental approach. Despite dominating possession and creating chances, the Americans could manage only a 1-1 draw. Dom Dwyer's second-half strike gave them hope, but Miguel Camargo's equalizer exposed the defensive fragility that would plague their campaign. It was a result that placed immediate pressure on their second fixture—against Martinique, a team so small it didn't even hold FIFA membership.
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa buzzed with nervous energy on July 12 as the Americans prepared for what should have been a routine victory. Martinique, representing a Caribbean island with a population smaller than most American cities, had arrived at the Gold Cup as the longest of long shots. But soccer's beauty lies in its capacity to humble the mighty, and on this humid Florida evening, the Americans would learn that lesson in the most painful way possible.
The first half unfolded like a cautionary tale about underestimating opponents. The United States created chances—eight corner kicks testified to their territorial dominance—but Martinique carried the greater threat. In the 31st minute, Kevin Parsemain's eight-yard strike crashed against the near post, a warning shot that should have awakened American urgency. Twelve minutes later, Stephane Abaul's header narrowly missed the target.
Arena's halftime adjustments reflected both tactical necessity and growing concern. The Americans emerged with greater purpose, pressing higher and creating clearer chances. Paul Arriola's six-yard attempt struck the crossbar, while Jordan Morris failed to chip the advancing goalkeeper when presented with a golden opportunity. The breakthrough finally came in the 53rd minute when Omar Gonzalez stabbed home a rebound from close range, his second international goal providing the relief that had been building for nearly an hour.
Eleven minutes later, the Americans appeared to have seized control. Eric Lichaj's overlapping run created space for a perfect cross to the near post, where Morris redirected the ball home from four yards. At 2-0, the result seemed secure, the progression to the quarterfinals all but guaranteed. But in soccer, comfort is often the prelude to catastrophe. The collapse began in the 66th minute with a moment that would haunt Brad Guzan's memory. Parsemain's 23-yard effort was routine by international standards, but the ball slipped past the American goalkeeper at the right corner, a mistake that transformed the entire complexion of the match. The crowd's nervous energy became palpable anxiety as Martinique sensed opportunity where none should have existed.
Eight minutes later, the unthinkable became reality. A series of deflections following a faulty American defense resulted in a shocking equalizer, as the ball found its way to Parsemain again for his second goal of the evening. The Americans, who had dominated possession and created the better chances, suddenly found themselves level against a team that existed on the periphery of international soccer. The rescue came from the player who had missed the earlier opportunity. In the 76th minute, Gyasi Zardes delivered a cross from the left flank that found Morris in the penalty area. The Seattle Sounders forward, showing the composure that had temporarily abandoned him earlier, smashed his shot into the top right corner from eight yards. The goal was both redemption and salvation, a moment of individual brilliance that masked the collective failures that had nearly cost the Americans their chance at the tournament.
"We made it really tough on ourselves," Gonzalez reflected afterward. "We could've done much better. That's the disappointing part, the fact that we gave up two goals." The sentiment captured the evening's paradox—victory achieved through individual heroics rather than collective excellence, advancement secured despite rather than because of the team's performance.
The result lifted the Americans to the top of Group B standings, but the manner of victory raised more questions than it answered. Three days later in Cleveland, the United States completed their group stage campaign with a 3-0 victory over Nicaragua, Matt Miazga's late header ensuring they topped the group on goals scored. The arithmetic was satisfying—seven goals in three matches, a quarterfinal berth secured—but the underlying performance suggested a team still searching for its identity.
Arena's experiment had yielded advancement, but at a cost that extended beyond the scoreline. The Americans had survived their encounter with Martinique through individual moments rather than collective strength, through late drama rather than early dominance. As they prepared for the knockout rounds, the question remained whether a team built on opportunity rather than established chemistry could navigate the deeper waters that lay ahead.