MINNEAPOLIS โ The United States secured a spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals following a thrilling match against Costa Rica, concluding with a 4-3 victory in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw on Sunday night. Key to the U.S. victory was Damion Downs, who netted the decisive goal in the sixth round of the shootout, and goalkeeper Matt Freese, who made three crucial saves.
Next, the U.S. will face Guatemala on Wednesday in St. Louis. Guatemala earned their spot by ousting Canada through penalties in the quarterfinalsโ opening game. U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino commended his teamโs resilience, saying they demonstrated exceptional character. Freese thwarted penalty efforts from Costa Ricaโs Juan Pablo Vargas, Francisco Calvo, and Andy Rojas. Reflecting on his preparation, Freese said, โPenalties are my thing,โ adding that he studied the opponentsโ past penalty kicks en route to Minnesota.
In the other semifinal matchup on Wednesday, Mexico is set to play against Honduras in Santa Clara, California. The Gold Cup final is slated for July 6 in Houston. Historically, the U.S. team has reached the Gold Cup semifinals 17 out of 18 times, maintaining an unbroken streak since 2000 when they lost to Colombia in quarterfinal penalty kicks.
In regulation play, Diego Luna and Max Arfsten were the goal scorers for the No. 16 ranked U.S. team. They faced their most formidable challenge in Costa Rica, ranked 54th, after cruising through the group stage with a dominant 8-1 goal difference. Alonso Martinez drew level for Costa Rica in the 71st minute. He skillfully capitalized on a rebound following Carlos Moraโs initial attempt.
A notable change this tournament is the elimination of extra time, save for the championship match, reflecting CONCACAFโs revised rules for this yearโs North, Central America, and Caribbean tournament. John Tolkin could have clinched the win for the U.S. during the fifth penalty round, but Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas thwarted his effort.
Freese, however, amplified his teamโs chances by blocking Rojasโs shot with a spectacular dive, immediately rising to celebrate with an exuberant display for his team. This paved the way for the 20-year-old Downs to score the winning penalty. The U.S. roster missed several key players due to various reasons, including rest, injuries, and Club World Cup involvement. Among the absentees were Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and Weston McKennie.
Costa Rica was also without several pivotal players. Manfred Ugalde, the forward who had been prolific with three goals in the tournament, and midfielder Carlos Mora missed the match due to yellow-card suspensions. Meanwhile, defender Ariel Lassiter and forward Warren Madrigal were sidelined by severe injuries.
During the group stages, half of Costa Ricaโs six goals were penalties. In this match, Calvo added another, converting from the spot in the 12th minute after Arfsten conceded a foul. Despite Malik Tillman hitting the post with a penalty in the first half, Luna netted his maiden international goal shortly before halftime. However, Tillman assisted Arfsten in regaining a 2-1 lead early in the second half, which ultimately led to the shootout victory for the U.S.