Luna's First-Half Goals Were Enough to See the USMNT Through to the Gold Cup Final
The United States secured its place in the Gold Cup final with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Guatemala at Energizer Park in St. Louis on Wednesday night. The win marks the USMNT's return to the championship match for the first time since 2021, extending their remarkable record to 13 Gold Cup final appearances.
Diego Luna emerged as the hero of the evening, delivering a masterful first-half performance that effectively decided the contest. The young midfielder opened the scoring just four minutes into the match, capitalizing on a spilled save by Guatemalan goalkeeper Alessandro Navarro to fire home with his left foot. Luna's second goal came in the 15th minute, showcasing his technical ability as he dribbled past defender José Carlos Pinto and curled a right-footed shot into the near post from the edge of the penalty area.
Despite the early two-goal advantage, the Americans faced a stern test from an inspired Guatemalan side. The Central American team dominated possession in the latter stages of the first half, outshooting the U.S. 13-1 over 30 minutes. Matt Freese was forced into several crucial saves to preserve his team's lead, including denying former USMNT forward Rubio Rubin on multiple occasions.
Guatemala's persistence finally paid off in the 80th minute when 18-year-old Olger Escobar, born in Lynn, Massachusetts, cut inside and slotted a low shot past Freese to set up a tense finale. The visitors pushed desperately for an equalizer in the closing stages, with Freese making another vital save from José Morales in stoppage time.
The victory extends the United States' perfect competitive record against Guatemala at home, maintaining their 100% winning percentage across 11 matches. The Americans will now face defending champions Mexico in Sunday's final at NRG Stadium in Houston, setting up the eighth meeting between these rivals in a Gold Cup final.
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