2025 Gold Cup Recaps: USA Holds on While Canada is Stunned
Three of the Gold Cup quarterfinal matches went to penalties, and the knockouts claimed another upset with Guatemala going through.
Oh, Canada…go join Panama on the couch and think about what could have been.
Guatemala made a historic upset in penalties by defeating 10-man Canada in the shootout for their first semifinal since 1996 when they advanced as the best second place team in a nine-team tournament.
The United States meanwhile has a new penalty kick hero in Matt Freese, who made three saves in six rounds to propel a shaky USA team into the next round.
UNITED STATES 2 (4), COSTA RICA 2 (3)
Long story short, this will likely be forever known as the Max Arfsten game, as he had a hand in all four goals in regulation.
The Columbus Crew wingback playing as a pure left back for the USMNT, conceded a penalty in the first half but made amends right after halftime by setting up Diego Luna’s equalizer (via a deflection) and then a go-ahead goal minutes later after a nice sequence and assist from Malik Tillman.
He was also responsible for the equalizer when Carlos Mora split him and Luca de la Torre in the corner of the box and fired a near post shot right at Freese. While the US keeper made the save, the rebound came right back to Mora who centered to Alonso Martinez and the NYCFC man slotted home past his teammate to level the score.
The PK shootout however was another level, Freese also redeeming himself to an extend as we hadn’t really seen the best of him as a shot stopper yet in this tournament. He guessed correctly on nearly every shot as did the legend Keylor Navas for Costa Rica, but in the end Damion Downs got Navas to go the wrong way in the decisive sixth round to put the USA through.
Full length highlight of the penalties is here.
GUATEMALA 1 (6), CANADA 1 (5)
Canada got on the board first via the penalty spot when Aaron Herrera tripped up Tani Oluwaseyi while making a darting run in the box. Jonathan David dispatched the spot kick to put the Canucks ahead at the half hour mark.
Ten minutes later, winger Jacob Shaffelburg tripped up Olger Escobar on the sideline near midfield and was cautioned for the first time. This was important because deep into first half stoppage time he charged through Stheven Robles at midfield with a body check that would make a NHL referee think about a five minute major.
Down to 10 men, Canada slowly let Guatemala back into the game as Los Chapines would eventually end with a 57% edge in possession and a unspectacular 3 for 11 shooting mark.
But their best effort on goal would be more than enough, as star man Oscar Santis found former RSL attacker Rubio Rubin on the box for a powerful top shelf header in the 69th.
In the shootout after both teams failed to convert in the fifth round, Luc Rollet smashed Canada’s seventh kick off the crossbar, leaving Jose Morales to play the hero as he converted down the middle to send a raucous Guatemalan fan base into pandemonium.
Full highlights on the shootout are here.
BRACKET OVERVIEW
Well this was unexpected. Honduras making the semifinals is not unprecedented but this is effectively Guatemala’s first knockout win in the modern era of CONCACAF, as their previous semifinal appearance was granted via group position.
Canada should be bitterly disappointed, as they did not learn the lesson in their previous game against El Salvador to keep their composure and fell victim to a needless red card. Full credit to Guatemala however who were not outplayed in the first half and continue to enjoy a tremendous tournament.
But now they will face a perhaps emboldened U.S. side who played well enough against Costa Rica. Arfsten’s defensive lapses aside, the US simply plays so much better when their fullbacks are involved in the attack. The United States and Guatemala will face each other on Wednesday, July 2nd at 7 PM EDT from St. Louis, Missouri.
The bracket now falls into a familiar pathway for another USA-Mexico final but without the top four teams in the semis instead we will have far more intrigue in the return to form of Honduras after a few down cycles making the semis again for the first time in a decade or so and the upstart Guatemala will look to continue their historic run.