FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique– While Martinique was unable to advance past the group stage of the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup, there was one player from Les Matinino who left an indelible impression: FW Kevin Parsemain.
Martinique’s Group B campaign in the 2017 edition opened in style with Parsemain scoring the first goal in a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua.
A first half cross from the left flank was played in by Johan Audel and Parsemain beat two Nicaraguan defenders to the ball before heading in for the score.
It was a harbinger of things to come in the next game against the United States, against whom Parsemain wreaked havoc.
The first warning sign came in the 32’ when Parsemain fired a shot that hit the post. That was then followed by Parsemain’s second goal of the tournament via an inch-perfect right-footed shot that beat U.S. GK Brad Guzan in the 66’ to cut the U.S. lead to 2-1.
Eight minutes later in the 74’, Parsemain left the home fans stunned, as his deflection off an Audel shot brought Martinique level 2-2.
The U.S. would go on to win the match 3-2, but it was Parsemain who earned the headlines for his ability to do damage in front of goal.
Best summing up Parsemain’s excellent 2017 Gold Cup is the fact that he ended the tournament as the joint-top scorer with three goals, along with the U.S.’s Jordan Morris and Canada’s Alphonso Davies. Yet Morris appeared in six games and Davies in four, while Parsemain’s goal-scoring heroics only came in three appearances.
Now coming off 2019/20 Concacaf Nations League Qualifying in which he scored four goals for Martinique, Parsemain is poised for another standout performance in the 2019 Gold Cup.
If anything, Parsemain’s performance in the 2017 Gold Cup will remind opposing defenses not to take him lightly.
