The U.S. Men’s National Team advanced to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final with a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in Saturday’s semifinal clash at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Sporting KC defenders Matt Besler and Graham Zusi both started and played the full 90 minutes along the United States’ backline as the side advanced to its sixth final in the last seven tournaments.
The game was finely poised heading into the second half with both sides spurning opportunities in the opening period, but the U.S. finally found the breakthrough when substitute Clint Dempsey played in Jozy Altidore who clipped a finish into the back of the net to give the Americans a 1-0 lead in the 72nd minute.
Ten minutes later, Dempsey made it two when he curled a perfectly placed free kick low into the corner for his 57th international goal, matching Landon Donovan’s all-time record.
Besler and Zusi were a steady presence at the back as the U.S. recorded its third shutout of the tournament – two of which have come with the Sporting KC duo in the lineup.
Besler, Zusi and the U.S. National Team will now face either Mexico or Jamaica in the final on Wednesday, July 26 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Mexico and Jamaica will face off in the other semifinal on Sunday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California with kickoff set for 8 p.m. CT.
