USA-GUATEMALA EXPRESS:
July 2 in St. Louis
USA 2 Guatemala 1. Goals: Luna 4, 15; Escobar 80.
Att.: 22,423.

The USA reached the Gold Cup final with a 2-1 win over Guatemala thanks to the brilliance of Diego Luna, who scored twice in the first 15 minutes.

For the remainder of the semifinal, Mauricio Pochettino‘s men failed to take command. They were even outshot (20-12) by a nation that’s never qualified for a World Cup and had only once come this far in a Gold Cup, in 1996.

• NOTABLE: Playing in a U.S. city known for its uniquely deep American soccer history, visiting Guatemala received the more enthusiastic fan support from the sellout in St. Louis’ Energizer Park.

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USA Player Ratings

(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)

GOALKEEPER

Doubts linger over Matt Freese’s ability to prevent rebounds, as when he failed to grasp José Morales’ 12-yard header straight to him. Guatemala’s other shots that didn’t go high or wide also flew at Freese until stoppage time. Freese dived well to deflect Morales’ 22-yard strike that would have likely hit the post. Olger Escobar’s 80th-minute goal was a well-struck 14-yard low shot into the corner of the net (1-2).

Player (Club) caps/goals (age)

5
Matt Freese (New York City FC) 6/0 (26)

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DEFENDERS

Central defender Tim Ream, by far the team’s most experienced player, coughed up the ball in the 1st minute. He got away with grabbing Rubio Rubín’s arm as the center forward shot toward the near post after beating Ream to a through ball. Ream’s passing out of the back also failed when it led to a Guatemalan 69th-minute blocked shot. Ream did clear plenty of balls late in the game and covered well for shaky left back Max Arfsten.

Ream’s partner Chris Richards was also kept plenty busy winning headers and intercepting passes. But Richards wasn’t as poised as one would hope from a top-of-the-depth chart central defender. He committed a yellow-card foul on Rubín without preventing a Guatemalan chance — he was shown the card after the advantage play-on. After his errant pass allowed a long-range shot, Richards did promptly move in to block it.

Overall, Ream and Richards — though overwhelmed on Guatemala’s goal — came through crucially to prevent more damage as the disjointed U.S midfield failed to contain the Guatemalans.

Right back Alex Freeman was available near the Guatemalan endline to receive Diego Luna’s cross-field pass and continue the buildup to the USA’s opening goal. Freeman sent a cross in for Agyemang’s big header chance in the second half. The 20-year-old fell for Arquímides Ordóñez’s feint to the outside before Ordóñez set up Escober’s goal.