USA 2-2 Canada (3-2) : Player ratings as USMNT win in penalties to advance to Gold Cup semifinal

Canada looked destined to shock the US men’s national team and advance to the Gold Cup semifinals – but the American team rallied together to pull off a narrow, dramatic victory on penalties 2-2 (3-2).

The first half saw a defensive slugfest on both ends, with the action mostly coming from the sidelines in an unfortunate scene as assistant referee Cristian Espinoza was struck in the head by a clearance from Canada defender Kamal Miller a minute into the game.

It’s wasn’t until late in the second 45 that the United States and Canada picked up the pace.

Brandon Vazquez, the standout forward at TQL Stadium, came off the bench to put the USMNT up 1-0 in the 89th minute with a headed shot from a cross from DeJuan Jones. The Cincinnati fans gave a standing ovation to the player, as chants of his named echoed throughout the stadium.

But just as the US thought they had the win wrapped up, Miles Robinson, for the second time in the game, committed a handball in his own box to give Canada a lifeline via a penalty kick. Canada defender Steven Vitoria made no mistake from the spot, going right down the middle to level the game at one all. The goal was Canada’s first shot on target – and it came in the 90th minute.

The late penalty meant that extra time was on the cards.

Canada took the lead after sitting deep in the first half of extra time, with substitute Jacob Shaffelburg finding the back of the net through a powerful knuckleball. The move came after a counter attack, and Shaffelburg capped it off in style while silencing the USMNT fans at TQL Stadium.

However, USA weren’t done just yet. Gianluca Busio’s close range strike was originally saved by St. Clair, but the ball ricocheted in the box and came off defender Scott Kennedy and fell into Canada’s et to bring the game to 2-2. As extra time appeared to not have contained enough drama, the two sides were still tied after 120 minutes, meaning penalty kicks would decide who advances to the semifinal.

After a flurry of impressive saves from Matt Turner during the shootout, Canada’s fourth attempt from the spot rocked off the crossbar and ensured USMNT’s passage to the semifinals against Panama. Canada put on an impressive performance, while the US were fortunate to escape on penalty kicks.

GK: Matt Turner – 10/10 – Didn’t have much to do as the US kept most of the possession. Couldn’t do much on the penalty kick despite his previous heroics from the spot against Jamaica but saved two attempts in the shootout.

LB: DeJuan Jones – 7/10 – Got forward on several occasions making good runs to aid the attack. Assisted Brandon Vazquez late on with a perfect cross.

CB: Jalen Neal – 5/10 – Made a great block in front of goal to deny Richie Laryea a chance at scoring first but had some shaky touches at the back showing his young age.

CB: Miles Robinson – 5/10 – Had some good moments in his first full game back, but conceded a late penalty in stoppage time via a handball and was lucky to not concede another earlier in the game.

RB: Bryan Reynolds – 6/10 – Had several bright moments going forward like Jones, but was so close to putting the ball in his own net via a clearance. Thankfully, for the USMNT, he did not.

CM: Djordje Mihailovic – 6/10 – Was excellent defensively (usually doesn’t stand out in that position) and also had a few rusty passes in the early going.

CM: James Sands – 6/10 – Had his usual quiet, yet solid showing anchoring the US midfield.

CM: Gianluca Busio – 7/10 – Had a shot but wasn’t anywhere near goal, like Jalen Neal and Djordje Mihailovic he too had a couple of shaky touches on the ball. Looked dangerous when he joined the attack.

LW: Julian Gressel – 7/10 – Set up Busio for a great chance as well as Zendejas but they led to nothing. Had a few good deliveries from set pieces.

ST: Jesus Ferreira – 6/10 – Linked up well with teammates in and around the box and was USA’s best player in the first half.

RW: Alejandro Zendejas – 5/10 – Like the previous three Gold Cup games, he struggled to get involved going forward.

Substitutes

LW: Cade Cowell (63′ for Alejandro Zendejas) – 6/10 – Provided a spark off the bench but was a little rusty.

ST: Brandon Vazquez (73′ for Djordje Mihailovic) – 8/10 – Came off the bench to score for the second time in the tournament and made his case to earn more minutes.

CB: Matt Miazga (73′ for Jalen Neal) – 6/10 – Provided assurance at the back alongside Robinson.

CB: Aaron Long (91′ for Miles Robinson) – N/A.

RW: Jordan Morris (91′ for Julian Gressel) – N/A.

AM: Cristian Roldan (113′ for Bryan Reynolds) – N/A.

Manager

B.J. Callaghan – 6/10 – Picked a pretty strong lineup that sleepwalked through the first half but was not hesitant to make a flurry of changes in the second half.

GK: Dayne St. Clair – 7/10 – Like the US’ Matt Turner, he also didn’t have much to do even though his side nearly as much of the ball. Made a really good save from a close range shot by Gianluca Busio.

CB: Kamal Miller – 6/10 – Had a quiet yet decent showing at the back. Picked up a yellow in the second half that put his side in a dangerous position.

CB: Steven Vitoria – 8/10 – Made a huge block to deny Jesus Ferreira from scoring the opening goal and stood tall in defense. Converted the stoppage time penalty with ease, something that you usually don’t see a center-back do.

CB: Zac McGraw – 6/10 – Had exactly what you wanted from a defender: a quiet but solid night.

RM: Richie Laryea – 7/10 – Was electric down the left-flank and caused DeJuan Jones all kinds of trouble.

CM: Ali Ahmed – 6/10 – Made a few good runs going forward that went unnoticed.

CM: Moise Bombito – 6/10 – The young midfielder was strong while helping out defensively while also playing a few nice switched passes.

CM: Jonathan Osorio – 7/10 – Had a few nice moments on the ball in the midfield.

LM: Liam Millar – 7/10 – Combined well with Cavallini and got involved in attack, displaying great skill down the wider areas of the field.

ST: Junior Hoilett – 6/10 – The veteran forward was quiet but also played a few key ball out wide that resulted in half-chances for his nation.

ST: Lucas Cavallini – 6/10 – Was lucky to still be on the pitch after a rash challenge on James Sands in the first half, but helped linked together play with Hoilett and the midfielders.

Substitutes

CM: Liam Fraser (60′ for Moise Bombito) – N/A.

ST: Jacen Russell-Rowe (73′ for Lucas Cavallini) – 6/10 – Dropped deep into the midfield to help start up attacks.

CM: David Wotherspoon (73′ for Ali Ahmed) – N/A.

ST: Jacob Shaffelburg (86′ for Junior Hoilett) – 8/10 – Was active down the left-hand side and scored a fantastic goal to cap off a brilliant counter-attacking sequence to give his team the lead.

LM: Charles Andreas-Brym (86′ for Liam Millar) – N/A.

CB: Scott Kennedy (91′ for Zac McGraw) – 5/10 – Was unfortunate to concede the own goal. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Manager

John Herdman – 7/10 – His defensive starting XI worked quite well in the first half and kept his side in the game for 120 minutes, but was unlucky during the shootout.