The US beat Canada 3-2 on penalties on Sunday after their CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final ended 2-2 following extra-time in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The US face Panama tomorrow in their semi-final in Las Vegas, while the other tie sees Jamaica take on Mexico.
The Reggae Boyz overcame a determined Guatemala 1-0 to reach the semi-final thanks to Amari’i Bell’s 51st-minute goal.
Photo: AFP
A lackluster encounter between tournament favorites the US and John Herdman’s Canada came alive in the 88th minute.
US substitute Brandon Vazquez, playing on his home ground, rose magnificently to head in a cross from the left by DeJuan Jones, but there was still time for Canada to respond in stoppage-time when, after a video assistant referee review, the referee pointed to the penalty spot and Steven Vitoria keep his cool to convert.
Canada, who had not won against the US on American soil since 1957, then grabbed the lead in the first period of extra-time with a brilliant solo goal from Jacob Shaffelburg.
The left winger picked the ball up in midfield, raced clear of Jesus Ferreira and then unleashed a left-foot drive that deflected off Matt Miazga on the way into the far corner.
However, the US found a way to force the game to penalties with a fortunate goal six minutes from the end of extra-time.
A long ball high into the penalty area from goalkeeper Matt Turner was headed down by Miazga and Gianluca Busio’s shot was parried out by Dayne St Clair and flew in off the leg of Canada defender Scott Kennedy.
US goalkeeper Matt Turner saved the first spot-kick from Vitoria, but then Vazquez skied his effort high over the bar.
Arsenal’s Turner then kept out a soft effort from Liam Fraser, before Cade Cowell finally found the net for the US.
There were no further misses until the contest was settled when, needing to score to keep the shoot-out alive, Charles-Andreas Brym blasted his kick against the bar.
US interim head coach B.J. Callaghan, who remains unbeaten, said his team had shown the right spirit to rise to the occasion.
“There are the moments, these are the high-stakes, high-impact games that we are looking to play because they test the character of the group and tonight we showed up,” he told Fox Sports.
Jamaica have now reached the semi-finals of four of the past five Gold Cups and have a chance to make their first appearance in the final since 2017.
It was one of Jamaica’s English Premier League contingent who created the breakthrough, with Everton’s Demarai Gray showing close control and awareness as he threaded a defense-splitting pass to Bell, who drilled home from the inside-left channel.
“It’s an amazing feeling to get to the semi-final. It’s something we set out to do, but we don’t want to stop there. We are going to keep on going, and go and win the tournament,” Bell said.
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