The USMNT booked their spot in the 2017 Gold Cup final with a key substitution and a regular putting the ball into the back of the net. A scoreless first-half saw the USMNT with the bulk of possession but nothing to show for it. Costa Rica had their chances in the second-half, pushing the USMNT for a response. They got it in the 72nd minute. Clint Dempsey subbed on in the 66th minute, finding Altidore in the 72nd for the game's opening goal. Dempsey doubled the lead in the 82nd minute, scoring directly from a free kick to tie the all-time USMNT record. The USMNT advances to play Jamaica who beat Mexico 1-0 on Sunday. That game is set for Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA on Wednesday (9:30pm ET - FS1).
When asked by FS1 what this night meant to him, Dempsey said: "It's an opportunity for us to go to a final and win a trophy. Living a dream, so I'm happy."
Also on Saturday, CONCACAF's disciplinary committee announced bans for the two El Salvadoran players involved in biting incidents during the quarterfinal loss to the USMNT. Henry Romero is banned for six games for biting and grabbing Jozy Altidore. Darwin Ceren is banned for three games for biting Omar Gonzalez. Both bans apply only to national team games. The bans begin immediately.
-- GAME REPORT --
Match: U.S. Men's National Team vs. Costa Rica
Date: July 22, 2017
Competition: 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup; Semifinals
Venue: AT&T Stadium; Dallas, Texas
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Attendance: 45,516
Weather: 82 degrees; clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA
CRC 0 0 0
USA - Jozy Altidore (Clint Dempsey) 72nd minute
USA - Clint Dempsey 82
Lineups:
USA: 24-Tim Howard; 19-Graham Zusi, 3-Omar González, 5-Matt Besler, 2-Jorge Villafaña; 20-Paul Arriola (28-Clint Dempsey, 66), 23-Kelly Acosta (13-Dax McCarty, 85), 26-Michael Bradley (capt.), 25-Darlington Nagbe; 8-Jordan Morris, 27-Jozy Altidore (9-Gyasi Zardes, 83)
Subs not used: 12-Bill Hamid, 4-Matt Miazga, 7-Chris Pontius, 10-Joe Corona, 15-Eric Lichaj, 16-Justin Morrow, 18-Juan Agudelo, 21-Matt Hedges, 29-Jesse González
Head coach: Bruce Arena
CRC: 18-Patrick Pemberton; 6-José Salvatierra (14-Randall Azofeifa, 78), 3-Giancarlo González, 2-Johnny Acosta, 24-Kendall Waston, 15-Francisco Calvo; 10-Bryan Ruiz (capt.), 20-David Guzmán (25-José Leitón, 80), 17-Yeltsin Tejeda (5-Kenner Gutiérrez, 74), 7-David Ramírez; 21-Marco Ureña
Subs not used: 23-Dany Carvajal, 1- Leonel Moreira, 16-Christian Gamboa, 26-Jhamir Ordain, 8-Bryan Oviedo, 4-Michael Umaña, 22-Juan Pablo Vargas, 12-Joel Campbell, 27-Jimmy Marín, 19-Ulises Segura, 14-Rodney Wallace, 9-Ariel Rodríguez, 11-Johan Venegas
Head Coach: Oscar Ramírez
Stats Summary: USA / CRC
Shots: 10 / 7
Shots on Goal: 4 / 2
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 2 / 4
Fouls: 20 / 15
Offside: 1 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
USA - Omar González (caution) 61st minute
CRC - Giancarlo González (caution) 67
USA - Jozy Altidore (caution) 72
Officials:
Referee: Joel Aguilar (SLV)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Zumba (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: William Torres (SLV)
Fourth Official: César Ramos (MEX)
