CINCINNATI, Ohio – The United States are through to the semifinals of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup after edging Canada 3-2 in a penalty shootout following a dramatic 2-2 draw on Sunday night at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Each team scored in the final 10 minutes of regular time and then again in the final 10 minutes of extra time, forcing the shootout. U.S. GK and 2021 Gold Cup Best GK award winner Matt Turner proved pivotal, making two saves in the spot kicks to send his team to the Semifinals, where they will face Panama at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California on Wednesday.
It took until the 27’ for the first chance to come when a lowly hit corner kick ricocheted to the feet of U.S. FW Jesus Ferreira, whose shot from inside the box was blocked.
Canada came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock in first half stoppage time when a deep cross from Junior Hoilett deflected off the foot of U.S. DF Bryan Reynolds and over the U.S. goal.
Things stayed tight going into the second stanza. Gianluca Busio tried to poke one into goal in the 67’ after a scramble in the box, but Canada GK Dayne St. Clair was up to the task and made the save.
Brandon Vazquez entered the contest for the U.S. off the bench with a quarter-hour to play and made a big difference by giving the U.S. a late 1-0 lead in the 88’ by smacking a Dejuan Jones cross into goal.
Canada refused to give up, though, and struck right back in second half stoppage time via the penalty spot. A VAR review determined a U.S. handball in the area and Steven Vitoria calmly converted to make it 1-1, sending the affair to extra time.
The teams traded chances early in the extra period, but it was a left-footed strike from Jacob Shaffelburg that nicked the leg of U.S. DF Matt Miazga that gave Canada a 2-1 lead in the 109’.
The U.S. were unfazed and just how Canada were able to equalize late in regular time, the U.S. did so in the extra frame when a Busio shot was blocked by St. Clair, but the rebound hit Canada DF Scott Kennedy and trickled over the line to even things up at 2-2 in the 114’.
Matters had to be settled from the penalty spot and Turner came through in a massive way, with two saves before the final Canada attempt caromed off the crossbar to seal the 3-2 shootout win for the defending champions.
Penalty shootout definition, starting with Canada: Steven Vitoria saved, Brandon Vazquez missed, Liam Fraser saved, Cade Cowell 1-0, Kamal Miller 1-1, Gianluca Busio 2-1, Jacen Russell 2-2. Jesus Ferreira 3-2, Charles Brym hit the post. United States won 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in extra time.
