Malik Tillman's first two international goals were a long time coming, but they arrived just in time for the United Staes in Sunday's Gold Cup opener.

Malik Tillman was the USMNT's best as Mauricio Pochettino's men bounced back from a horror week to open their Gold Cup with a 5-0 victory.

Malik Tillman scored 37 goals in the last three seasons for Rangers and PSV, but his two goals in the 5-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in the Gold Cup opener were his first two in 20 games for the USA.

A handful of dreadful losses — plus some drama between the team's biggest star and its new head coach — has the USMNT looking for a badly-needed rebound in this summer's Gold Cup tournament.

Tillman took home the match ball after an influential display that saw him dictate the pace of the game from his No. 10 position. In addition to his two goals, Tillman had a game-high four key passes. It was the kind of display PSV fans have grown accustomed to seeing, and USMNT fans have been longing for.

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Alex Freeman is the son of former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman, a Super Bowl winner in 1997.

Sunday's big win should relieve some pressure on a U.S. team that's been struggling for form and harmony of late. However, it's clear bigger tests are ahead at this Gold Cup and beyond.