USA advance to Gold Cup semi-finals by beating Canada on penalties

Goaltender Matt Turner saved two penalties as the United States qualified for the semi-finals by winning the tiebreaker against Canada 3-2 after drawing 2-2 in regulation on Sunday night, and will seek a place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Panama.

In a scoreless game until the 88th minute, USA equalized in extra time when Canadian Scott Kennedy scored an own goal in the 115th minute, six minutes after Jacob Shaffelburg had given Canada the lead . Brandon Vázquez put the Stars and Stripes ahead 1-0, but Steven Vitória made it 1-1 in added time with a penalty after a handball into the box from Miles Robinson.

Turner saved Vitória’s first charge from the tiebreaker with his right hand, Vázquez sent his charge into the stands and Turner deflected Liam Fraser’s rite.

Cade Cowell, Gianluca Busio and Jesús Ferreira converted for the United States, while Kamal Miller and Jacen Russell-Rowe converted for Canada. Charles-Andreas Brym smashed the Maple Leaf team’s final penalty into the crossbar.

The winner of the semi-final between the United States and Panama next Wednesday in San Diego will advance to the championship game on July 16 against Mexico or Jamaica in Inglewood, California.

The United States advance to the Gold Cup semi-finals for the 12th time since the Americans were eliminated in the quarter-finals in 2000, losing on penalties to hosts Colombia .

In the first game of the day, Jamaica beat Guatemala 1-0 thanks to a goal from Amari’i Bell in the 51st minute.The defender finished off Demarai Gray’s cross with a right kick to score his first international goal. Jamaica will face Mexico on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

Mona Watkins

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