Weston McKennie on Sunday scored in the first half as the US dodged a bullet by edging upstarts Curacao 1-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Gold Cup.
The unbeaten US recorded their fourth straight shutout victory, but the tiny Caribbean island of Curacao gave them their biggest test of the tournament so far.
The US looked sluggish in the second half at Lincoln Financial Field Stadium in Philadelphia and needed some superb goalkeeping from Zack Steffen to move on.
Photo: AFP
They advance to face Jamaica, who beat Panama by the same 1-0 score in the other quarter-final on Sunday.
“It wasn’t one of our best games, but it is about moving on and that’s what we did,” McKennie said.
McKennie scored in the 25th minute, finding open space near the back post and heading home a perfectly timed cross from teammate Christian Pulisic.
McKennie said the play was something they work on in training.
“He [Pulisic] likes to cut in a lot and I like to make late runs into the box,” McKennie said. “I always tell him when he cuts in to look for me around the back post.”
Curacao, who were the surprise second-placed finishers in Group B, controlled most of the play in the second half as they pressed for the equalizer.
Steffen on Sunday faced more shots than the US faced in the entire group stage.
Curacao came close to leveling the score in the 84th minute when Leandro Bacuma weaved around a couple of defenders and aimed his shot for the top corner, but Steffan made a desperate stab at the ball and managed to deflect it over the crossbar with his finger tips.
Curacao had the US on their heels and for a while it looked like they might have a chance to follow Haiti, who knocked out Canada, and score a big upset.
“We fought like lions. We did everything to win,” Curacao’s Cuco Martina said.
Elsewhere, Jamaica moved a step closer to reaching their third straight Gold Cup final as they booked their spot in the semi-finals with a 1-0 victory over Panama.
Darren Mattocks converted a penalty in the 75th minute for Jamaica, who won their group, but struggled to do so after drawing with El Salvador and Curacao.
The Reggae Boyz got a break when Panama’s Michael Amir Murillo was called for a controversial handball as he was challenging Mattocks for a header.
The Jamaica players then argued over who would take the penalty, before Mattocks won out.
He made no mistake, firing home as Panama goalkeeper Luis Mejia went the wrong way.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at