ST. LOUIS — Diego Luna scored twice within the first quarter-hour, and america held on to beat Guatemala 2-1 on Wednesday night time to attain its first Concacaf Gold Cup final since 2021.
Luna put the U.S. forward with a left-footed shot within the fourth minute, then scored together with his proper within the fifteenth for his third aim in two video games.
Olger Escobar, an 18-year-old who was born in Lynn, Mass., reduce inside and slid a shot from inside the realm between Matt Freese and the far publish within the eightieth for his second aim of the event. Freese parried José Morales’ shot towards the far publish within the second minute of stoppage time.
The U.S. performs defending champion Mexico or Honduras for the title Sunday in Houston, the Individuals’ final aggressive match earlier than their World Cup opener subsequent June. El Tri has received 9 Gold Cups, the U.S. seven and Canada one.
The Sixteenth-ranked Individuals superior to the Gold Cup final for the thirteenth time. All 5 losses within the finals have been to Mexico.
The No. 106 Guatemala, which has by no means reached the final, outshot the U.S. 13-1 within the final half-hour of the primary half.
Luna received his first aim after Alex Freeman crossed for Malik Tillman. He touched the ball to Luca de la Torre, whose shot was spilled by goalkeeper Kenderson Navarro. Luna reacted shortly and switched the ball from his proper foot to his left, then shot over Navarro’s outstretched proper hand.
Eleven minutes later, Luna acquired a cross-field go from Tillman about 40 yards out, dribbled in, received by defender José Carlos Pinto with a stepover and put the ball contained in the close to publish from the sting of the penalty space.
Guatemala’s starters included a pair of former U.S. gamers: 29-year-old ahead Rubio Rubin made seven appearances for the Individuals from 2014-18 earlier than switching in 2022, and 28-year-old defender Aaron Herrera made one in 2021 after which modified in 2023.
Rubin put the ball previous Freese within the twenty ninth minute, however the aim was disallowed for offside. Freese made a kick save on Rubin within the thirty fourth.
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