USA survives Canada and advances with Jamaica to semi-finals

Posted On: July 10, 2023

The United States, who beat Canada in a tachycardic duel defined on penaltiesand Jamaica overtook the last crossings of the Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-finals this Sunday.

By winning on penalties ⚽, @USMNT 🇺🇸 eliminate #Canada 🇨🇦 and goes to the semi-finals of @Gold Cup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dssYGwjgeZ

– Sports tribune (@Tribunadeportes) July 10, 2023

2021 title holders Team USA will face Panama in the semi-finals on Wednesday at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California. That same day, Mexico and Jamaica will compete for the other ticket to the final at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (Nevada).

Goalkeeper Matt Turner, one of the few regular starters for the United States present at this tournament, was the hero of the duel against Canada in Cincinnati (Ohio) by saving two shots on penalties, which were reached after a mad final.

The match at TQL Stadium, which had passed without great chances, culminated when the hosts took the lead in the 88th minute with a goal from substitute Brandon Vázquez.

The FC Cincinnati striker, who also has Mexican nationality, headed the net from the heart of the box with an accurate DeJuan Jones cross but, as the stands celebrated, Canadian Steven Vitoria equalized at minute 90 +3 on a penalty. reported by the hand of Miles Robinson.

In extra time, Canada took the lead at minute 109 thanks to fine individual play from Jacob Shaffelburg, but luck smiled on the home side at minute 114 when Canadian Scott Kennedy scored into his own goal when a rebound from his keeper bounced off him. .

On penalties, Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner cleared the first two Canadian kicks from Steven Vitoria and Liam Fraser. Brandon Vázquez missed one of the American penalties but Charles-Andreas Brym certified qualification for the hosts by shooting the fifth from the crossbar.

Canada, who also lacked star Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), were left without their desired revenge after June’s loss to the United States in the Concacaf Nations League final.

– Guatemala says goodbye –

In the first round of the day at TQL Stadium, Jamaica narrowly beat Guatemala 1-0, which was the revelation of the tournament so far.

Left-back Amari’í Bell scored the only goal in the 51st minute, receiving the ball alone outside the big box due to a lack of intelligence from the Guatemalan defense and beating goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen.

The Central American team did everything possible to equalize but the ‘Reggae Boyz’ goalkeeper, Andre Blake, took it upon himself to neutralize all the opportunities of the team coached by the Mexican Luis Fernando Tena.

Guatemala thus said goodbye to the first Gold Cup of which it managed to complete the first phase as leader of the group.

“Overall we had a good tournament and today a good match, but there is still a bad taste that maybe we could have done something more today,” lamented Tena. “It was a question of goal, of objective. In a match that went both ways, this time we had to lose”.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to be in the semi-finals, but we don’t want to stop here, we’ll try to win the tournament,” said Jamaican striker Amari’i Bell.

“Against Mexico, it will be a tough game. We already played in March and it was an equal duel. We have to believe we can win,” said the English defender from Luton Town.