Richards' 2nd-half goal lifts US over Saudi Arabia 1-0 and into CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals
Richards tracked the ball as it flew into the box on a curving free kick from Sebastian Berhalter in the 62nd minute to tap the ball with his left foot past Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aquidi.
The win and the 1-1 draw between Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti in Group D's other match Thursday in Houston, clinched a knockout berth for the Americans, who improved to 42 wins, one loss and five draws in group play. The U.S. has won its group in 16 of 17 Gold Cups, and closes Group D play on Sunday against Haiti at Arlington, Texas.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino stuck with the same lineup that produced a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, the first time he made no changes in consecutive matches since taking over the program last October. But playing against No. 58 Saudi Arabia, the 16th-ranked Americans showed little of the attack firepower they displayed against the No. 100 Soca Warriors.
The match saw few real chances on goal by either team. The Americans had just one shot in the first half. Richards' speed to track back to cover for Alex Freeman's mistake and block a shot kept Saudi Arabia from a 1-0 lead.
Matt Freese got his second consecutive start in goal for the U.S. and third in four matches as he appears to have displaced Matt Turner.
The Gold Cup represents the last competitive test for the Americans ahead of the 2026 World Cup. As co-host with Mexico and Canada, the U.S. is an automatic qualifier for the World Cup.
The Americans limped into the Gold Cup on a four-match losing streak that included a 4-0 rout by Switzerland in their final tune-up. And with many of the top players either sitting out this tournament for personal reasons, injuries or playing in the Club World Cup, Pochettino selected a roster full of relatively untested and unproven players.
Missing the tournament for the U.S. are regulars Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest,
___
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
4 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
NASCAR's 2026 schedule shake-up: New street race, Chicagoland's return, and more
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR in 2026 will race on a new street course in San Diego, return Chicagoland Speedway to the schedule, move the All-Star race to Dover, Delaware, and end its 38-race season back at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The schedule released Wednesday includes two off weekends on a calendar that stretches from February to November. It begins with the exhibition Clash on Feb. 1 at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem for the second consecutive year, with the season-opening Daytona 500 to follow on Feb. 15. The season ends Nov. 8 in Florida at Homestead, which hosted the championship-deciding finale for 18 consecutive years before NASCAR shifted it to Phoenix Raceway in 2020. The race at Phoenix was given a different date in the playoffs and NASCAR is expected to rotate the season finale to various venues in ensuing years. Chicagoland is reopening after a six-year hiatus and a switch back to the track located in suburban Joliet after three seasons on a temporary street circuit in downtown Chicago. The San Diego event will be held on a military base in Coronado. To add Chicagoland and San Diego, NASCAR dropped the Chicago street race and will not return to Mexico City, where it held the first international Cup Series points race since the 1950s. A return to Mexico City in 2026 became difficult to schedule because of soccer's World Cup. NASCAR also moved Watkins Glen in New York from its traditional August date to Mother's Day weekend and the all-star race from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to Dover so that North Wilkesboro will be a points-paying Cup race, and New Hampshire lost its playoff race to become the penultimate race of the regular season. There also are two off weekends after just one this season, which ends with 28 straight races. Feb. 1 — Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium Feb. 15 — Daytona 500 Feb. 22 — Atlanta March 1 — Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas March 8 — Phoenix March 15 — Las Vegas March 22 — Darlington, South Carolina March 29 — Martinsville, Virginia April 5 — off weekend April 12 — Bristol, Tennessee April 19 — Kansas April 26 — Talladega, Alabama May 3 — Texas May 10 — Watkins Glen May 17 — All-Star Race (Dover) May 24 — Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte) May 31 — Nashville, Tennessee June 7 — Michigan June 14 — Pocono in Long Pond, Pennsylvania June 21 — San Diego June 28 — Sonoma, California July 5 — Chicagoland July 12 — Atlanta July 19 — North Wilkesboro July 26 — Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis) Aug. 2 — off weekend Aug. 9 — Iowa Aug. 15 — Richmond, Virginia Aug. 23 — New Hampshire Aug. 29 — Daytona, Florida Sept. 6 — Darlington Sept. 13 — Gateway in Madison, Illinois Sept. 19 — Bristol Sept. 27 — Kansas Oct. 4 — Las Vegas Oct. 11 — Charlotte Roval Oct. 18 — Phoenix Oct. 25 — Talladega Nov. 1 — Martinsville Nov. 8 — Homestead ___
San Francisco Chronicle
4 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Norway soccer federation says it will donate profits from Israel game to humanitarian work in Gaza
GENEVA (AP) — Norway's soccer federation says it 'cannot remain indifferent' to humanitarian suffering in Gaza and will donate any profits from an upcoming World Cup qualifying game against Israel to aid work there. Norway plays Israel in Oslo on Oct. 11. 'Neither we nor other organizations can remain indifferent to the humanitarian suffering and disproportionate attacks that the civilian population in Gaza has been subjected to for a long time,' Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness said in a statement Tuesday. 'We want to donate the proceeds to a humanitarian organization that saves lives in Gaza every day and provides active emergency aid on the ground,' she said. It wasn't immediately clear how much the Norwegian federation expected to earn through ticket sales for the match, which begin next week. The Israeli soccer federation responded to the move on Wednesday by urging its Norwegian counterpart also to condemn the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and hostage-taking by Hamas. In a statement first published by British daily The Telegraph, the Israeli federation also called on the Norwegians to 'make sure that the money is not transferred to terrorist organizations or to whale hunting,' referring to an issue Norway has faced global criticism for. The Norwegian federation said it is working with UEFA and local police on security arrangements for the Oct. 11 game. Extra security is expected to limit capacity by up to 3,000 tickets, the federation said. Ullevaal Stadium typically has crowds of 26,000 for national-team games. Israel has been unable to host games in international competitions for security reasons since October 2023. It staged its 'home' qualifying game against Norway in Hungary. Norway won that game 4-2 in March. ___
USA Today
4 minutes ago
- USA Today
Who has the best college football uniforms? Top 25 looks, ranked
You know the saying: Look good, play good. College football is steeped in pageantry, and there may not be a better way to display it than with uniforms. With 136 teams in the Bowl Subdivision, no two uniforms are ever the same, adding a layer of uniqueness to every school. Yet some stand out above the rest. Whether it's sticking to a traditional look or taking a bold risk to modernize the fit, there's a wide range of styles that have asserted themselves among the best in college football. It only takes one quick look to recognize what team is on the screen and realize there aren't many looks that can top it. USA TODAY ALL-AMERICANS: Preseason team includes Ohio State standout So which college football uniforms are the best? They have certainly evolved over the 21st century. Gone are the days of just two uniform sets, with nearly every team having a plethora of alternate options or special editions. With so many possible styles, USA TODAY Sports will base its rankings on the primary home and away uniforms. It's no coincidence that most of the teams leading the uniform rankings are among the most successful in the sport. Whether it's the crisp jersey design or the unforgettable helmet decal, these uniforms have been featured in some of the most iconic moments in the sport, thus propelling them into a nationally recognizable style. TOP 25 STADIUM RANKINGS: Who has the best college football stadium? 25. Colorado The Buffaloes have gone through several uniform combinations — especially under Deion Sanders — that have been solid, but the classic black and gold look is still elite, especially with the Ralphie logo serving among the best in the sport. 24. Georgia The Bulldogs have been the premier program in the sport this decade and have a sharp-enough look, but there's nothing remarkable about it. Having a nearly identical logo to the Green Bay Packers doesn't help, either. 23. San Diego State One of the most distinct uniforms in college football, the attention to detail of the Aztec calendar on the helmets and shoulders is second to none. While it looks great up close, it can be tough to see from afar. 22. Hawaii The Rainbow Warriors would be much higher if they lived up to their name and went back to their more colorful uniform template, but things aren't bad as they stand. If nothing else, they evoke memories of staying up late to watch Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan. 21. Mississippi The script "Ole Miss" is a beauty, and it was a massive success for Mississippi to add the powder blue sets, which wouldn't be an issue if they became the primary uniforms. The powder blue helmet also works with any jersey. 20. Tennessee The Vols are one of the preeminent brands in college football, with their checkered end zones and Power T logo giving them a distinct identity. But, man, there's only so much you can do with that pukish, obnoxious shade of orange. 19. Kansas State Bill Snyder brought in the "Powercat" logo to usher in a new identity when he took over Kansas State in 1989. Now it's synonymous with the legendary coach every time it takes the field, and it helps purple and silver mix so well. 18. Miami The Hurricanes' jerseys and their distinctive "U" logo will always mean something to multiple generations of fans who watched Miami become a dynasty. They've been at the mercy of some bizarre designs from Adidas, but their overall look has endured. 17. Nebraska The Cornhuskers have had some alternate looks most traditional fans really disapproved of, and it makes sense given how the home and road uniform has stood the test of time. The "Winning Tradition" patch is also a great touch to the team's history, even if there hasn't been a whole lot of winning recently. 16. Tulane Perhaps no school at the FBS level has a better color combination than the Green Wave's dark green and blue, which it puts to good use in some gorgeous uniforms. It doesn't hurt that the "Angry Wave," which the school adopted as its primary athletic mark in 2017, is one of the best logos in college sports. REQUIRED READING: The best college football weekend could feature seven games with ranked teams 15. Florida If not broken, why fix it? Florida's signature orange helmet has been around for more than 45 years and it looks just as good. Normally, it's strange to have different color helmet, jersey and pants, but it looks crisp every time the Gators take the field. 14. North Carolina It's hard to ever go wrong with Carolina blue and white as primary colors, especially with the argyle design of the school's basketball uniforms incorporated in the design. It's fair to wonder how Bill Belichick will fare as a college head coach, but at the very least, his Tar Heels teams are going to look good. 13. Florida State There aren't many things more intimidating than seeing the helmets with the iconic spear with the home crowd taking part in the Seminole War Chant. While it's a phenomenal look, Florida State also deserves bonus points for incorporating several elements of Seminole culture. 12. Penn State The Nittany Lions' uniforms are proudly understated, so much so that there was some blowback when player names were added to the back of jerseys by former coach Bill O'Brien to honor players who stuck with the program through the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Is it possible they're just a little too plain, though? 11. Alabama Much like Penn State, Alabama's look is pretty plain, but it has become synonymous with success and a scary sight to see for whoever is lined up against them. What elevates the Crimson Tide are the helmet numbers, giving a unique touch to every player and becoming part of the legacy of several stars to play in Tuscaloosa. BOLD PREDICTIONS: Seven 2025 college football scenarios that aren't crazy 10. Pittsburgh The Panthers made the wise choice six years ago to ditch navy blue and gold for their more traditional blue and yellow combination, which gives them some of the best, most distinct uniforms in the sport. The only real knock is the jersey font, with pointed numbers that are a nod to the school's Cathedral of Learning. The thought behind it is good, but basic is sometimes better. 9. Oklahoma There's nothing flashy about Oklahoma's uniforms, but the interlocking "OU" and Sooners across the chest is such a powerful look. The Sooners also have one of the best shades of red that isn't too dark or too bright, making it look beautiful day and night. 8. Oregon For the better part of 30 years, the Ducks have been a walking Nike billboard, with what feels like an infinite number of uniform possibilities. Though there have been some misses along the way, they hit far more often than they miss with some of the most daring and innovative looks in the sport. 7. UCLA The distinct shade of blue, perfect shoulder stripes and iconic script logo given the Bruins one of the best uniforms for decades, joining the already picturesque shots of the Rose Bowl. The switch to Jordan Brand has elevated this signature look further with a gold helmet and numbers that really shine. 6. LSU Though they also have a rarely worn purple jersey, the Tigers might have the best individual uniform combo in the sport, with white jerseys, yellow pants and their yellow helmet. You can practically hear 100,000 alcohol-and-gumbo-soaked fans screaming in Death Valley whenever you see that get-up. 5. Southern California Countless football legends have donned the perfect blend of cardinal and gold, and they have looked clean when playing in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Trojan decal on the helmet that really isn't part of USC's logo identity, but it has become the signature of the football team. 4. Texas For all their conference titles and national championships, the Longhorns' biggest accomplishment might be finding a shade of orange that actually looks good. The understated helmets with the longhorn silhouette screams college football. 3. Ohio State A uniform that changes every week? Ohio State awards players helmet stickers for performance, and Buckeye stickers are the top ones in the sport. Seeing helmets filled with them is always a guarantee by the end of the season with Ohio State constantly in the conversation for national championships. Plus, the helmets shine and the scarlet and gray looks pristine. 2. Notre Dame While Notre Dame's mythology can be nauseating to some, the Fighting Irish's jerseys are as clean as they are iconic. The helmets containing 23.9 karat gold is a beautiful touch and are a nod to the Golden Dome that adorns the Main Building on its campus. 1. Michigan The most iconic look in college football: The maize and blue looks perfect together, and what really cements the Wolverines' spot at the top is the signature winged helmet that's often duplicated, but never replicated. The uniforms just scream football, so hail to the victors of college football uniform supremacy. PATH TO PLAYOFF: Sign up for our college football newsletter
