The Concacaf Gold Cup was designed as a testing ground for an inexperienced U.S. men`s national team, and Sunday`s quarterfinal clash against Costa Rica proved a significant examination. It was not just the inherent pressure of the first knockout game for this squad, but the dramatic 2-2 draw culminating in a 4-3 penalty shootout victory added layers of difficulty and tension.
In a competitive back-and-forth match, the USMNT initially fell behind after Francisco Calvo converted a 12th-minute penalty for Los Ticos. They fought back, however, taking a 2-1 lead by the 49th minute, despite missing a penalty of their own in the first half. Costa Rica managed to level the score again, forcing a dramatic penalty shootout. Costa Rica`s Keylor Navas made two saves, but USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese emerged as the hero, saving three. Amidst these twists and turns, several young players stepped up, finally capitalizing on the opportunity presented by head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Freese delivered the most memorable performance on Sunday in Minneapolis. He faced a total of seven penalties (including Calvo`s early one), diving the correct way on almost every attempt. He saved nearly half of the spot kicks and got a touch on most of the others.
This was a defining moment for the 26-year-old, who potentially got his starting chance due to circumstance at the Gold Cup. Pochettino seemingly intended to explore options, bringing first-choice keeper Matt Turner but not playing him. Injuries to expected participants Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew) and Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids) before the tournament opened the door for New York City FC`s Freese. While his regular play might not always be standout, as he quickly mentioned in a post-match interview, “penalties are my thing.”
Freese`s outing significantly boosted his credentials in what is becoming a competitive race for goalkeeper spots for the World Cup. He showcased a genuinely valuable skill set that some others in the player pool have yet to demonstrate. Freese is now a recognized penalty specialist – he has won six out of seven career shootouts he`s participated in, making him a potential “break-glass-in-case-of-emergency” selection next year, much like the Netherlands` Tim Krul famously was in a 2014 World Cup shootout against Costa Rica.
While Freese was the standout, he wasn`t the only rising USMNT player to bolster his case for next year`s tournament on Sunday. Midfielder Luna was a likely candidate to impress this summer and, despite a slow start to the Gold Cup, finally had his moment by scoring the equalizer against Costa Rica. His goal was one of his three shots during the game; he was a constant threat in attack during the U.S.`s intense first 50 minutes, keeping Costa Rica`s defense busy. Luna`s energetic and intense style perfectly matched the team`s approach during that period. Months prior, he had endeared himself to Pochettino with his strong mindset. The question was whether he could pair that mentality with decisive moments on the field, and his goal on Sunday adds to an international tally that now stands at one goal and four assists in 10 matches.
Luna`s success indicates increasing competition for attacking midfield positions as the USMNT enters the final year before the World Cup, especially as Malik Tillman maintains good form and Gio Reyna navigates his situation at Borussia Dortmund.
A similar dynamic is developing at left back, although this competition might resemble the goalkeeper situation more than the fight for starting roles among Luna, Tillman, and Reyna. Max Arfsten had a mixed performance on Sunday, but he also contributed several key plays by assisting Luna`s goal and scoring one himself in the second half, providing a form of redemption after giving away a penalty in the 11th minute. The 24-year-old Arfsten was vibrant on the left wing during the USMNT`s initial high-energy phase, creating opportunities for teammates and completing a high percentage of his passes in the attacking third.
His lack of experience was noticeable at times, and it`s difficult to imagine him displacing Antonee Robinson, who has been consistently excellent for Fulham and the USMNT in recent years. However, there`s an argument that Arfsten is a better backup option than Joe Scally, who hasn`t always successfully deputized for Robinson. Arfsten`s versatility across both wings is also a valuable asset.
USMNT`s Areas for Improvement
Arfsten`s performance is representative of the USMNT`s overall showing – they made progress on Sunday, but clear weaknesses remain. The high tempo of the initial 50 minutes was certainly a positive, as were the 11 shots and two goals generated in that period. Their attacking plans were effective, particularly with Arfsten commanding the left flank, but there were still many misconnections in the final third. Combined with Tillman`s missed penalty, their expected goals (1.47) for that period left much to be desired.
This also served as a stark reminder of a longstanding USMNT issue – the lack of a consistently reliable goalscorer leading the forward line. In the absence of the injured Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, and the out-of-favor Josh Sargent, this responsibility fell to Patrick Agyemang. Like Luna, he had shown promise earlier in the year but has just one Gold Cup goal so far. On Sunday, he appeared out of sync with his teammates and hesitant on the ball, taking four shots but failing to place any on target.
A feeling of disconnect was still present. While partly understandable given the players are relatively new to each other and building chemistry takes time, after nearly a month training together, the first 50 minutes demonstrated their time together was beginning to pay off. However, after taking the lead, the group collectively dropped their intensity. They took seven more shots afterwards but none on target, generating only 0.54 expected goals in the process. Most of this came after Alonso Martinez`s 71st-minute equalizer; notably, there was a period from the 50th to 65th minute where the USMNT did not register a single shot.
Heading into the semifinals, this version of the USMNT still feels somewhat incomplete, which is perhaps expected considering the long list of high-profile players absent from the Gold Cup. It remains difficult to confidently predict whether this group can go all the way and win the tournament, although they will be heavy favorites in Wednesday`s semifinal against Guatemala, who reached the final four for the first time since 1996 after upsetting Canada. However, winning the tournament is almost a secondary objective this summer. Pochettino`s primary task was to identify talent that can integrate with the main senior squad later this year, and he has certainly done that, even if the process has also revealed just as many problems he needs to address with one year remaining until the World Cup.
