a day ago
USMNT moves on in Gold Cup after penalty shootout thriller
The U.S. men's national team defeated Costa Rica in a thrilling Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal that went to a penalty shootout at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, June 29.
The USMNT prevailed in the shootout, 4-3, after the two teams were knotted up a 2-2 after 90 minutes (there is no extra time in the Gold Cup until the final). The penalty shootout went to a sixth round. After U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese stopped Andy Rojas' attempt, Damion Downs — a 20-year-old making just his second USMNT appearance — put his attempt past Costa Rica's legendary shot-stopper Keylor Navas. Freese made two saves in the penalty shootout, and nearly made saves on two other attempts.
The U.S. will face Guatemala — a surprise winner over Canada in another penalty shootout — in the Gold Cup semifinals on Wednesday night in St. Louis (7 p.m. ET on FS1). Mexico takes on Honduras — which upset Panama — in the other semifinal.
