A tense night of soccer at the U.S. Bank Stadium held strong emotions for the USMNT in the quarter-finals of the Gold Cup due to an unexpected start, when defender Francisco Calvo scored Costa Rica's first goal just 12 minutes into the game after a very debatable penalty was awarded for an alleged foul on Maximilian Arfsten inside the box.
Mauricio Pochettino's side didn't really take to the field with the concentration they showed in their group games. However, the USMNT reacted positively during the first half with Diego Luna taking advantage of a long throw and a bit of luck to equalize.
A lot of fouls and a lot of intensity marked the sequence of the match in the second half, which started in the same way as the first half, but with the sides reversed. Just three minutes after the break, Arfsten was able to make amends for the penalty he conceded and finished with a low shot to put the USMNT ahead.
Unfortunately, the lack of control also came back to haunt Mauricio Pochettino's work during the match and Costa Rica took advantage of it, making use of their enormous competence and their search for a goal. Alonso Martinez overcame the opposition's pressure in the 71st minute and fired a powerful shot into the top corner.
Pochettino was saved by Freese on a tense night in the Gold Cup
Fortunately for the USMNT, the new Gold Cup regulations do not allow for extra time after the end of regulation time and the decision went to penalties, with goalkeeper Matt Freese being the star of the night. He made three saves (including a decisive save in sudden death) to allow Damion Downs to convert the penalty.
Freese managed to overcome the criticism for mistakes made in the previous phases and ended up receiving the best player of the match award, gaining enormous confidence for the match against Guatemala in the Gold Cup semi-finals in search of a place in the final.