USA vs CANADA (July 9, 2023) – The U.S. Men's National Team used two penalty kick saves from Matt Turner to win over Canada 3-2 in a shootout in front of a boisterous 24,979 spectators at TQL Stadium after a thrilling 2-2 tie in extra time. The USMNT advanced to the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinals against Panama with the victory (7:30 p.m. ET; FS1, Univision, TUDN) on Wednesday, July 12 at Snap Dragon Stadium in San Diego, California. Bud Light Man of the Match went to Matt Turner, the captain.
Key Moments of the Match
The USMNT took the lead in the 88th minute after a nearly scoreless period of normal time thanks to an outstanding strike from second-half replacement Brandon Vazquez, who was playing in front of his FC Cincinnati home supporters. The lead was lost four minutes later in stoppage time of the second half when Canadian defender Steven Vitoria's penalty kick forced extra time. Jacob Shaffelburg, a forward for Canada, gave the team the lead in extra time in the 109th minute. However, five minutes later, American midfielder Gianluca Busio forced an own goal off Canadian forward Scott Kennedy.
While the USA's Cade Cowell, Busio, and Jess Ferreira scored their penalty kicks to advance the team to the semifinal, Matt Turner stopped Canada's first two tries in the shootout.
The start of the game was terrible and out of the ordinary. In the opening minute, a sharply struck ball injured Mexican assistant referee Christian Espinosa in the face, forcing him to leave the match. After a protracted delay, the match resumed with Trinidad and Tobago's Caleb Wales running the line for the day's earlier quarterfinal between Guatemala and Jamaica.
The USA created the first chance in a fragmented first half marked by tension and caution when a Julian Gressel corner kick bounced dangerously about the Canadian penalty area in the 26th minute. Jess Ferreira pounced on the loose ball eight yards from goal and fired on the turn as he sought his seventh goal in three games at this Gold Cup. Jonathan Osorio, a sprawling Canadian midfielder, stopped his shot.
Three minutes into the first half's 12 minutes of stoppage time, Canada had its greatest opportunity. When the American defence faltered, Junior Hoilett, a striker, gained space on the right wing, and Bryan Reynolds, a defender for the Americans, deflected his low cross over the crossbar.
Another risky situation occurred in the U.S. penalty area as the half came to a close. Due to a previous shove by defender Moise Bombito on Busio in the lead-up to defender Zack McGraw's accurate header, a delayed VAR review for a possible handball on Miles Robinson was ultimately overturned.
In the 69th minute, Busio had a fantastic opportunity as a result of persistent U.S. pressure. Gressel sent a low pass to the midfielder at the top of the box, who caught it after taking a deft touch to go past a defender before the ball burst loose. It was returned to him, and his low shot required full-stretch save from Canada custodian Dayne St. Clair.
Six minutes later, FC Cincinnati's Brandon Vazquez, whose introduction as a substitute in the second half brought a thunderous cheer from the home crowd, narrowly missed. His outside-of-the-foot attempt from the edge of the box following a searching pass from Cade Cowell missed the goal post by a hair's breadth.
In the 88th minute, the USA made a breakthrough, and it was hometown hero Vazquez who headed in an inch-perfect cross from left back DeJuan Jones by racing in behind the Canadian defence. Canada responded quickly, ensuring that it would not be declared the winner. During the first two minutes of stoppage time in the second half, Robinson was called for a handball inside the American box. In order to force overtime, the referee pointed to the spot. Vitoria, who had been taken off guard by Vazquez's score, sent his kick down the centre and past Turner.
Shaffelburg, a replacement for Canada, scored against the flow of play in the 109th minute. Before his low effort was deflected and went into Turner's goal, the Nashville SC forward scooped up the ball in his own half, dribbled past Ferreira, and backed up defender Matt Miazga.
As the additional time passed, the back-and-forth conversation went on. In the 115th minute, Busio created another opportunity when Miazga and attacker Jordan Morris both flicked on headers that fell at the feet of the Venezia midfielder. When Kennedy, the closest Canadian defender, was all that stood between St. Clair and danger, the ball bunched into his own goal.
After extra time, the score remained locked at 2-2, necessitating a penalty shootout to determine who would advance to the semifinals. The first two Canadian attempts from Vitoria and midfielder Liam Fraser were stopped by American custodian Matt Turner. Vazquez's initial shot went over the crossbar, but forwards Cade Cowell, Busio, and Ferreira all scored. Huge celebrations broke out after striker Charles-Andreas Brym's last shot against the crossbar for Canada, sending the United States into its 16th Gold Cup semifinal.
Highlights of Goals
88th minute: USA - Brandon Vazquez (DeJuan Jones): Deep into the second half, Vazquez scored the game's first goal. Strong in the air, the attacker outran Canada's captain Steven Vitoria and scored with a soaring header that elicited a raucous response from the Cincinnati supporters. Since making his debut earlier this year, the 24-year-old attacker has scored four goals in international competition. USA 1, CAN 0
CAN - Steven Vitoria (Penalty Kick), 92nd minute: A ball intended for Rusell-Rowe that was placed into the left side of the box clumsily rebounded up and struck American defender Miles Robinson in the arm. Following a VAR review, a penalty kick was awarded, and Vitoria stepped up to score through the centre.USA 1, CAN 1
CAN - Jacob Shaffelburg of Canada scored in the 109th minute with an unassisted drive down the left from inside his own half. He passed Ferreira and then struck a low left-footed shot that ricocheted off Matt Miazga's leg before slipping past Matt Turner and into the U.S. goal. CAN 1, USA 1
USA - Gianluca Busio hit a shot from close range following two flicked headers from Matt Miazga and Jordan Morris in the 115th minute that led to an own goal by Scott Kennedy for the USA. Dayne St. Clair, the custodian, made the save, but the rebound ricocheted off the face of defender Scott Kennedy and into the Canadian goal. CAN 2, USA 2
ADDITIONAL KEY POINTS:
In seven penalty shootouts during official competition, the USMNT has advanced five times.
The USMNT now has a record versus Canada of 17-10-13 overall. In games played for the Gold Cup, the team has a 4-0-2 lead and a 10-8-6 advantage in official competition.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner earned the Bud Light Man of the Match award for his two saves in the shootout, which enabled the USMNT to prevail on penalties for the first time since the 2005 Gold Cup Final against Panama.
The 88th-minute goal by Brandon Vazquez was his third of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup and the fourth of his international career.
On Vazquez's goal, DeJuan Jones earned his second career assist. In the group stage championship match against Trinidad and Tobago last Sunday, the left back recorded his first assist.
With a groyne injury, defender Jalen Neal exited the game and was replaced by Aaron Long.
Tonight's starting lineup has an average age of 24 years, 187 days, making it the sixth-youngest the USMNT has ever fielded in a knockout round game. Since June 2021, all five of the younger lineups have been used.
B.J. Callaghan, the head coach of the USMNT, substituted Julian Gressel for Cristian Roldan in the starting lineup for last Sunday's match against Trinidad and Tobago.
James Sands became the 11th member of the USMNT to participate in 10 straight Gold Cup games. Sands started each of his previous nine Gold Cup games after coming on as a substitute in his tournament debut against Haiti on July 11, 2021.
Jalen Neal made history by becoming the USMNT's youngest centre back to play in a knockout round game at the age of 19 years, 319 days. On December 22, 1976 at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he defeated Steve Pecher, who started in centre defence for the USA in a World Cup qualifying playoff matchup with Canada.
Julian Gressel received his second overall start and first in a sanctioned tournament. Gressel made his debut against Serbia on January 25, 2023.
The USMNT has an overall record of 29-8-6 in Gold Cup knockout rounds and 11-0-2 in quarterfinal games.
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MATCH REPORT OF USA vs CANADA
Match: U.S vs. Canada
Date: July 9, 2023
Competition: 2023 Gold Cup – Quarterfinal
Venue: TQL Stadium; Cincinnati, Ohio
Fan’s Crowd: 24,979
Kickoff: 8:06 p.m. ET
Weather: 78 degrees, few clouds
U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Lineups:
USA: 17-Alex Zendejas (11-Cade Cowell, 63), 12-Miles Robinson (4-Matt Miazga, 73), 20-Jalen Neal (3-Aaron Long, 91), 22-Julian Gressel (13-Jordan Morris, 91), 9-Jesús Ferreira,5-Bryan Reynolds (10-Cristian Roldan, 113), 6-Gianluca Busio, 8-James Sands, 14-Djordje Mihailovic (19-Brandon Vazquez, 73), 1-Matt Turner (capt.), (15-DeJuan Jones).
Substitutes not used: 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 21-John Tolkin, 24-Jackson Yueill 18-Sean Johnson, 23-Gaga Slonina.
Head coach: B.J. Callaghan
CANADA MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Lineups:
CAN: 1-Dayne St. Clair; 4-Kamal Miller, 5-Steven Vitoria, 9-Lucas Cavallini (17-Jacen Russell-Rowe, 72), 14-Moise Bombito (3-Liam Fraser, 60),15-Zac McGraw (23-Scott Kennedy, 91), 10-Junior Hoilett (capt.) (13-Jacob Shaffelburg, 86), 20-Ali Ahmed (8-David Wotherspoon, 73), 21-Jonathan Osorio, 22-Richie Laryea11-Liam Millar (19-Charles-Andreas Brym, 86).
Substitutes not used: 6-Dominick Zator, 7-Jayden Nelson, 12-Victor Loturi 16-Tom McGill, 2-Zachary Brault-Guillard.
Head coach: John Herdman
