USA to battle Mexico in Gold Cup final
The USA will meet with the winner of Wednesday's other semifinal, between Mexico and Honduras, in Sunday's final in Houston.
Luna, an exciting talent who plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer, put the USA ahead in the 4th minute when a Luca de la Torre shot was parried out and the 21-year-old pounced to slot home.
The winger, who came up through the ranks of lower division football in Texas, then doubled the advantage in the 15th minute with a brilliant, individual goal.
Luna picked up the ball in space in midfield and dribbled goalwards, skipping a challenge before firing home from over 20 yards out. Guatemala striker Rubio Rubin had an effort saved by USA keeper Matt Freese and then another disallowed for offside to the frustration of his team's large and noisy travelling support. Sebastian Berhalter went close to a third just before the break with a free-kick which deflected off the wall and was well saved by Kenderson Navarro.
Mauricio Pochettino's USA, who came into the tournament on the back of a four-game losing streak, began to come under more and more pressure from a lively Guatemala after the interval.
That pressure intensified after the Central Americans scored in the 80th minute when Arquimides Ordonez dribbled into the box and 18-year-old Boston-born Olger Escobar fired home.
The home fans held their breath in stoppage time when Jose Morales drilled a low shot from the edge of the box but Freese did well get down and push the ball wide.
Luna's performances will bolster his chances of making the squad for the World Cup next year even when regular starters such as Christian Pulisic return.
"Every single one of these players think about it the same way I do, that this is the number one dream we had as a kid and we are going to fight to have as many chances to wear (this shirt) as we can," said Luna.
The Californian, of Mexican heritage, was praised by teammate Berhalter for his two crucial goals.
"He does stuff like that, scoring two goals like that in a semi-final, it is why he's him and he's one of the best players in MLS and one of the best players here," he said. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Vingegaard 'stronger than ever' as Tour de France start looms
LILLE, FRANCE: Two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard said he was feeling stronger than ever on Friday and confident of winning another Tour de France as tensions mount on the eve of the start. Cycling's greatest race also features what may be one of sport's greatest rivalries, as the softly spoken Vingegaard vies with defending champion Tadej Pogacar, who has more of a swashbuckling style. Slovenian Pogacar attacks at the slightest provocation, whereas the Dane tends to stick to a carefully plotted plan. The pair have won the past five Tour de France between them and the 112th edition gets underway on Saturday from the northern city of Lille. It has an old school itinerary favouring climbers such as wispy Vingegaard. And the 28-year-old Dane was promising to fulfil his part of the bargain over the 21-day extravaganza. "I'm on the highest level that I've ever been," said the 2022 and 2023 winner. Vingegaard explained he was more muscular after changing training routine to fully recover from a bad crash last year. "I'm more heavy now than I was last year, but it's muscle and it gives a lot more power. Let's see if that's enough," he said. Vingegaard smiled as he was asked directly about Pogacar, who claimed on Thursday that Vingegaard was the best climber in the world. "I have a lot of admiration for Tadej," he said. "He's a very nice guy and a very good bike rider". — Evenepoel fired up — Those words are a far cry from the early days of the rivalry. The magnificent 3,338-kilometre route in the first edition since 2020 not to venture abroad starts with a flat stage around Lille expected to hand the first overall leader's jersey to a sprinter. But the 184 riders from 23 teams will rove across the north to the west of Brittany in the opening ten days on often narrow rolling roads. Aggressive, hotly contested battles for the right to the yellow jersey and huge roadside crowds of several hundred thousand are expected each day. Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel is hotly tipped to take the yellow jersey by at least stage five. Evenepoel is Olympic and world champion in the time trial and vowed on Thursday to "go all in all the way" on the 33km time-trial around Caen. "I'm here to compete, to make it harder for them. Last year I was third. I'm going to give my maximum and we'll see in a couple of weeks," said Evenepoel. The volcanoes of the Puy de Dome present the first mountains as late as stage 10 when the riders get their first day off. There are two more colossal climb days in the Pyrenees before the blockbuster final week in the Alps where cycling folklore says the Tour is won. — AFP
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
USA to battle Mexico in Gold Cup final
MIAMI: Diego Luna scored both goals as the United States beat Guatemala 2-1 in St Louis on Wednesday to reach the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The USA will meet with the winner of Wednesday's other semifinal, between Mexico and Honduras, in Sunday's final in Houston. Luna, an exciting talent who plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer, put the USA ahead in the 4th minute when a Luca de la Torre shot was parried out and the 21-year-old pounced to slot home. The winger, who came up through the ranks of lower division football in Texas, then doubled the advantage in the 15th minute with a brilliant, individual goal. Luna picked up the ball in space in midfield and dribbled goalwards, skipping a challenge before firing home from over 20 yards out. Guatemala striker Rubio Rubin had an effort saved by USA keeper Matt Freese and then another disallowed for offside to the frustration of his team's large and noisy travelling support. Sebastian Berhalter went close to a third just before the break with a free-kick which deflected off the wall and was well saved by Kenderson Navarro. Mauricio Pochettino's USA, who came into the tournament on the back of a four-game losing streak, began to come under more and more pressure from a lively Guatemala after the interval. That pressure intensified after the Central Americans scored in the 80th minute when Arquimides Ordonez dribbled into the box and 18-year-old Boston-born Olger Escobar fired home. The home fans held their breath in stoppage time when Jose Morales drilled a low shot from the edge of the box but Freese did well get down and push the ball wide. Luna's performances will bolster his chances of making the squad for the World Cup next year even when regular starters such as Christian Pulisic return. "Every single one of these players think about it the same way I do, that this is the number one dream we had as a kid and we are going to fight to have as many chances to wear (this shirt) as we can," said Luna. The Californian, of Mexican heritage, was praised by teammate Berhalter for his two crucial goals. "He does stuff like that, scoring two goals like that in a semi-final, it is why he's him and he's one of the best players in MLS and one of the best players here," he said. — AFP
Observer
4 days ago
- Observer
Bosch leads South Africa to 328-run win over Zimbabwe
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe; South African captain Keshav Maharaj said his team's 328-win in the first Test against Zimbabwe on Tuesday showed the amount of talent there was in the South African cricket system. Fast bowler Corbin Bosch took five for 43 as South Africa wrapped up the win on the fourth afternoon at Queens Sports Club, bowling out Zimbabwe for 208 after setting them 537 to win. Playing in his second Test, Bosch became the fourth South African to score a century and take five wickets in an innings in a Test. Bosch was one of seven changes from the team that won the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's in London last month. "We've been a team that has just won something major and we had a lot of youngsters coming in," said Maharaj at the post-match presentation. "We know the talent there is in our system. It was just about getting them in the right frame of mind to execute and they showed that throughout the four days." Bosch was pipped for the player of the match award by Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who made 153 on debut and at 19 became South Africa's youngest player to hit a Test century. "He's a mature young man and to see the way he goes about his business in pressure situations is really encouraging," Maharaj said of the young left-hander. Pretorius praised the team environment. "It's a moment I will cherish," he said. "The message in the change room was, be yourself and back yourself." Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine admitted that the lack of a third seam bowler had hurt his team after fiery bowling from Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga had South Africa struggling at 55 for four on the first morning. With no seam back-up, Zimbabwe lost control and South Africa set up their win by recovering to score 418 for nine declared. "In hindsight another seamer would have done us a lot of favours on that surface, especially bowling first," said Ervine. "Going down to the spin (bowlers), we just weren't consistent enough." Ervine said the Queens club pitch had offered uncharacteristic help to the faster bowlers. "We didn't expect as much pace and movement," he said. Ervine said first innings century-maker Sean Williams was "exceptional, but it was disappointing there wasn't someone else to support him." Zimbabwe's fragile batting line-up suffered a blow when opening batsman Brian Bennett was ruled out of the match after suffering concussion with his score on 19 in the first innings. "He's still getting monitored but hopefully he will be fit for the second Test," said Ervine. The teams meet again at the same venue in the second Test starting on Sunday. — AFP
