ST. LOUIS – Thanks to Diego Luna's brace, the U.S. men’s national team hung on for an intense 2-1 victory over Guatemala in their Gold Cup semifinal clash on Wednesday night. Now heading to a tournament-record 13th Gold Cup final, the United States will battle Mexico on Sunday.
Let’s dig into the match that was for the United States.
An ideal growing experience
When Canada was unexpectedly eliminated by Guatemala in the quarterfinals, the USMNT’s path to the final suddenly seemed that much clearer. But with masses of Guatemalan fans lined up and ready to stream into Energizer Park hours before kickoff, it became clear that this would be a different, perhaps steeper, type of challenge.
That challenge was palpable when the U.S. players came out of the tunnel to warm up and were greeted by boos in contrast with the roaring welcome for their opponent.
“That is Concacaf. You’re playing in the heart of America and you have 95% Guatemalan fans. I actually, in the huddle, told the guys, ‘Just take a breath, listen to what we’re doing. Look at what we’re doing, embrace what we’re doing, and enjoy it,’” St. Louis native Tim Ream said. Ream, who started at center back, underlined that in the next World Cup qualifying cycle, this taste of Concacaf would be beneficial for the youthful squad.
