America booked their place within the Gold Cup semi-finals at U.S. Financial institution Stadium as Matt Freese saved three spot-kicks in a 4-3 shootout win after a 2-2 draw.
Costa Rica needed to come from behind to drive penalties on Sunday, however then struggled to discover a well past Freese, because the USA reached the final 4 for the thirteenth straight Gold Cup.
Max Arfsten clumsily introduced down Kenneth Vargas within the field, and Francisco Calvo picked out the bottom-right nook from 12 yards, although Freese received a contact, simply 12 minutes in.
The USA slowly constructed their method into the match, and Tillman received them a penalty of their very own when he was caught by Juan Vargas simply after the half-hour mark, although he stepped up and struck the foot of the left put up.
Arfsten atoned for his earlier error by choosing out Diego Luna for the equalizer, and he received a stroke of luck as his effort deflected previous the diving Keylor Navas within the forty third minute.
Two minutes after the break, Arfsten then put them in entrance, assembly Tillman’s lay-off first time as he hit a low effort into the bottom-right nook, earlier than hitting the crossbar lower than 10 minutes later.
Alonso Martinez pulled Costa Rica stage 71 minutes in, stretching to information a half-volley over the defender on the road. Tillman then despatched an effort crusing over the bar earlier than Martinez struck the body of the aim, leaving Freese stranded.
Freese then denied Juan Vargas and Francisco Calvo within the shootout, which went to sudden demise, wherein he saved out Andy Rojas, permitting Damion Downs to ship the USA into the semi-finals.
The USA will subsequent face Guatemala, who beat Canada on penalties of their quarter-final, on Wednesday.
The USA will get the job achieved! pic.twitter.com/42NtH5HBpw
— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) June 30, 2025
Information Debrief: USA shot penalty prowess
That is the fifth time the USA have superior in a penalty shoot-out within the Gold Cup, with solely Panama (5) doing in order usually.
And it implies that they continued their streak of reaching the semi-final in every of the final 13 editions of the event, final failing to take action in 2000.
In truth, the USA have superior in every of the earlier 19 Gold Cup knockout matches wherein they held the lead at any level, courting again to 2005.
Whereas Freese will seize the headlines, additionally they have Arfsten to thank; he’s the primary USA participant to register a aim and an help in a Gold Cup knockout match since Clint Dempsey within the 2017 semi-final, additionally towards Costa Rica.