The United States got the defense of its CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer title off to a strong start Saturday in Foxboro, Massachsetts, with a 2-0 victory over El Salvador.
Eddie Lewis and Brian McBride scored for Team USA to put the American side at the top of Group C. They can clinch a spot in the quarterfinals Monday with a win or draw against Martinique. The win before an audience of 35,652 fans at Gillette Stadium boosted the Americans' all-time record to 15 wins, no losses and no draws in Gold Cup Group play. In another first-round match Saturday, Canada upset Costa Rica 1-0 in Group D. The Gold Cup, North and Central America and the Caribbean's major regional tournament, continues Sunday with Mexico hosting Brazil and Jamaica facing Colombia in Miami.
The top two teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals next Saturday in Foxboro, where two games will be played, and Miami and Mexico City, where one game each will take place. The winners move into the semifinals July 23 in Miami and July 24 in Mexico City. The third place game is scheduled for Miami on July 26 with the championship match set for Mexico City on July 27.