June 30, 2025 – Arlington, TX — The United States Men’s National Team edged past Costa Rica in an instant-classic Gold Cup quarterfinal, winning 4–3 on penalties after a nerve-jangling 2–2 draw. Goalkeeper Matt Freese emerged as the hero, saving two spot-kicks to send the Americans into the semifinals.
How It Unfolded
- Ricardo Pepi opened the scoring with a cool finish in the 18th minute, but Costa Rica leveled before halftime through Anthony Contreras.
- Substitute Malik Tillman appeared to have won it late with a 78th-minute strike, only for Costa Rica’s Aarón Suárez to force extra time with a scrappy equalizer.
- In the shootout, Freese denied Costa Rica’s final two penalties, cementing the U.S. victory and drawing roars from the 65,000 fans in Arlington.
“American Mentality”
- Coach Gregg Berhalter called the performance “badass,” praising the team’s resilience in a tense environment.
- Midfielder Yunus Musah echoed the sentiment: “We never felt like we’d lose. That’s the American mentality right now.”
- Despite conceding twice, the defense held firm in extra time, keeping Costa Rica without a shot on target in the final 30 minutes.
What’s Next
- The USMNT will face Canada in the semifinals, a rematch of their 2023 final.
- Freese is expected to keep his place in goal after a breakout performance.
- Berhalter hinted at tactical tweaks to avoid another late equalizer.
In summary: It was nervy, dramatic, and quintessentially American. With Freese stepping up in the biggest moment, the USMNT marches on, eyeing back-to-back Gold Cup titles.
Information from Yahoo Sports, ESPN, and The Athletic was used in this article.
