Latest news with #ProSoccerWire
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USMNT vs. Mexico player ratings: Adams, Freeman struggle in Gold Cup final loss
The U.S. men's national team had a good run at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, but came up short in a 2-1 loss to Mexico in the tournament final. The result was fair, as Mexico dominated the final 70 minutes to come from behind after a fourth-minute goal from Chris Richards gave the USMNT an ideal start. El Tri's stars came through when it counted, as Raul Jiménez and Edson Álvarez scored the goals to give veteran manager Javier Aguirre his second Gold Cup crown. The USMNT will point to this being a more experimental, less experienced side than the one Mexico was able to call on, but Sunday's battle at NRG Stadium in Houston did at least reveal plenty of character. Mauricio Pochettino's side was overmatched, but fought hard enough to only lose on a goal that had to be given after VAR overturned an initial offside call. Nevertheless, it's an outcome that will sting after the USMNT had reeled off five straight wins to get this far, restoring some belief in the program and revealing some younger players who will be in Pochettino's plans the next time that the strongest possible roster is assembled. Here are our player ratings from a Gold Cup final defeat for the USMNT. As a reminder, here's the Pro Soccer Wire player rating scale: GK: Matt Freese - 6.5 The goals aren't on Freese, with errors in front of him freeing the NYCFC goalkeeper from blame. On the plays he could possibly make, Freese was tidy, assuredly claiming some potentially tricky crosses and making sure all of his six saves didn't result in more danger. The USMNT clearly directed him to throw the ball out ASAP whenever Mexico had numbers forward, but the gambit never worked, and even allowed Mexico to reignite its attack in one instance. Freese might have done well to calm things down in those moments, but it's a small quibble with a solid showing. RB: Alex Freeman - 4 The young fullback looked naive at times, stepping towards aerial balls he wasn't going to get (a recurring issue for him that will need work). He also had the biggest of the several U.S. errors on Raul Jiménez's 27th minute goal, letting what should have been an easy interception slip under his foot. The 20-year-old may have had an unlikely equalizer in a bizarre second-half sequence that ended with his header catching Luis Malagón in the forehead. On the downside, it looked like Freeman was the player keeping Mexico onside on the dead ball that became the game-winner, though the real error came in tracking Johan Vásquez at the near post. Freeman is a serious prospect going forward, but this game is one that he has to learn from. CB: Chris Richards - 7.5 The Crystal Palace man gave the USMNT a lead with a perfectly-timed header that just barely got over the line after bouncing down off the crossbar. Coming after a similar group-stage goal for Richards, it was more evidence that the team's emphasis on set-piece execution is working. Beyond that, Richards was man of the match for the USMNT thanks to his box defending, repeatedly winning his battles and arriving to cut out dangerous service from Mexico. With the U.S. under intense pressure for long spells, he was very busy, and largely delivered. Could he have done better on Jiménez's goal? Possibly, but he only had to step out of his position due to errors in the midfield. CB: Tim Ream - 7 Ream took some heat from fans for being the player nearest Jiménez on Mexico's first goal, but he was trying to clean up after a series of errors elsewhere. He'd have had to do something superhuman to change that situation. Like Richards, Ream did well defending inside the box, coming up with some back-post headers and interventions that left no room for error. He also nearly set up a dramatic late equalizer with a long ball that sent Damion Downs in behind, but the young attacker lost track of the ball at a critical moment. LB: Max Arfsten - 6.5 The Columbus Crew wingback had a solid game at left back, including two sharp interventions at the back post in the first half. He created a good shooting chance from 24 yards and barely missed on what would have been a golazo in the 54th minute. Despite Roberto Alvarado seeing more of the ball than any Mexico attacker, he had to play safe due to Arfsten's best showing as a defender in the tournament, creating just one key pass. RCM: Tyler Adams - 5 On paper, Adams was good on the ball, connecting 88% of his 55 pass attempts, but those numbers are deceptive. Adams couldn't serve as the key link to allow the USMNT to build from the back and enter the middle third, as he simply wasn't able to get into pockets to be an option on a regular basis. As Mexico progressively took the game over, the Bournemouth man's lack of influence on the game stood out. These are the kinds of games Adams lives for at his best, but he looked like a player playing through knocks, covering the ground without the sort of speed and bite that has been his calling card. Scroll back up to that clip of the Jiménez goal and ask yourself: Where is Tyler Adams? The answer is, he's chasing shadows and eventually pulled out of position, something that a confident and fully fit Adams normally doesn't let happen. That summed up his performance, which was just not the star-level showing the USMNT needed from the biggest name on this Gold Cup roster. LCM: Luca de la Torre - 6 The San Diego FC midfielder was the most reliable connector the USMNT had during his 69 minutes on the field, with De la Torre connecting 88% of his passes and losing possession just four times. Given how much the U.S. struggled to keep the ball, that was no small thing. De la Torre also won all three of his duels. However, the 27-year-old wasn't able to turn that tidiness into true influence, and the USMNT really needed someone to offer the kind of impact Mexico was getting out of Marcel Ruíz and Edson Álvarez. That's probably why he was taken off as the game's intensity got ramped up late, but it's reasonable to argue that Mauricio Pochettino removed the wrong starting midfielder in that moment. RM: Sebastian Berhalter - 6 First of all, why "RM" and not RW for right wing? Mauricio Pochettino's set-up was once again a 4-2-3-1 that dropped Berhalter into a deeper pocket, supporting Adams and De la Torre while looking for early balls in behind. We're trying to reflect the asymmetry in the formation, something Berhalter allows through his versatility. In any case, he served in a gorgeous ball to get the assist on Richards' goal, much like he's shown throughout the Gold Cup. He played well in the first half, but as the game wore on the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder's accuracy in open play faded. He was up for the battle, covering ground and putting in three tackles, but was one of several players who became a reliable source of turnovers for Mexico in the final half-hour. AM: Malik Tillman - 5.5 The effort was there from Tillman, even after he seemed to take a knee to his hip flexor or hamstring that hampered his mobility for a spell midway through the second half. However, with the U.S. unable to meaningfully engage in a high press, that mostly meant chasing and protecting space, and as Mexico exerted more control that meant more issues. Tillman was dribbled past three times (more than any other player), and Pochettino's role of the dice to play him as a No. 8 from the 69th minute onward didn't give the U.S. much of anything. In the end, Tillman lost more duels than he won, gave away four fouls (and only earned one free kick), and couldn't turn his attempts to force something to happen into a magic moment. LW: Diego Luna - 5 As long as Luna is deployed as a quasi-wide player with no corresponding threat on the opposite flank, there will be days like this against good opponents. Luna's issue wasn't so much that he failed to do much with the ball as it was that he simply didn't get many touches. The USMNT couldn't find the Real Salt Lake man in the spaces he has done so much damage in throughout the Gold Cup, and when they did get him the ball his options were mostly to try to force it a la Tillman, or to try to build some possession. He chose the latter, which was wise, but also meant he was a muted presence throughout. When a shifty technician like Luna creates zero combined key passes, successful dribbles, and fouls won, you know they either had a howler or were cut out of that match. It's more credit to Mexico than anything else, but Sunday for Luna was the latter. ST: Patrick Agyemang - 6 The Derby County transfer target had to make a whole meal out of scraps, and he nearly pulled it off on a couple of occasions. Agyemang absorbed some tough challenges throughout, and (as has been the case throughout the Gold Cup) was a truly difficult physical presence to get the better of for El Tri. He managed just 22 touches in 90 minutes, but turned that into two key passes, a free kick won that became the only USMNT goal, and a booking for the otherwise excellent César Montes. Still, it has to be said that his aerial presence faltered once, and it was critical. That's Agyemang losing Vásquez on the game-winner, and the U.S. striker never really had sight of him during the sequence. If he's touch-tight, there's every reason to think he wins that battle for the delivery, but instead Álvarez (eventually) had a goal to celebrate. Coach: Mauricio Pochettino - 5.5 The good news? Pochettino had his charges flying to start, and the coaching staff's focus on set pieces paid off yet again with Richards' goal. However, once Mexico slowed the game down for a moment and caught up in terms of intensity, Pochettino needed to make a bigger adjustment than dropping his lines a bit and waiting for tired legs to require substitutions. The USMNT had performance issues on the field, but also needed some tactical ingenuity that never arrived. Pochettino trusts his players to solve problems more than most, but on the day they needed some help. The decision to stick with Adams for 19 minutes after he picked up a yellow card, given his ineffective performance, was puzzling. With the game turning into an offense vs. defense drill in the final 25 minutes or so, Pochettino could have also added a third center back. Sub: Damion Downs - 5.5 Downs came on for De la Torre in the 69th minute, playing underneath Agyemang in what became a 4-4-1-1 formation as the U.S. was trapped defending for long spells. The Köln attacker saw little of the ball, but also missed out on the best chance the U.S. created in pursuit of an equalizer. Ream's long ball picked out Downs' smart run perfectly, but the 21-year-old bafflingly lost track of the ball, spinning around and eventually leaving the entire episode to Agyemang (who couldn't convert in a more difficult situation). Sub: Jack McGlynn - 6 The Houston Dynamo midfielder replaced Adams in the 82nd minute, playing the right midfield role he had been seen in during the group stage. He was able to connect all but one of his pass attempts, but as a late gamble to put a more attack-minded USMNT on the field (the shuffle included Tillman as the experienced member of the double-pivot in central midfield), he ultimately wasn't able to help turn the tides. Sub: Brenden Aaronson - NR The elder Aaronson didn't come on until the 86th minute, and just never had time to impact proceedings. Sub: John Tolkin - NR Tolkin came on in the 86th minute for Arfsten, but never had a chance to make a mark on the game.
USA Today
06-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USMNT falls to 2-1 loss against Turkey: Highlights, recap of Saturday friendly
The U.S. men's national team were undone by two defensive errors on Saturday, falling 2-1 in a friendly against Turkey. With a new-look squad missing several European-based regulars ahead of the Concacaf Gold Cup, Mauricio Pochettino was looking for some new faces to make their mark. Jack McGlynn did himself no harm with a spectacular first-minute curler to give the U.S. the lead, but two veterans made the mistakes that would define the match. First, Johnny Cardoso was too slow to see his options during a build-out phase, eventually striking a scrambled pass directly into Arda Güler, with the Real Madrid youngster only having to block the ball past Matt Freese for a 24th-minute equalizer. Less than three minutes later, another error inside the box — this time, an aimless clearance from Miles Robinson — gave Turkey another golden chance that Kerem Aktürkoğlu buried from close range. While the USMNT was able to create a couple of second-half chances, particularly a pair of back-post opportunities for Max Arfsten and Malik Tillman, Turkey seemed content to concede possession and frustrate the hosts. If anything, the best chance of the game's final stages fell to Turkey, with substitute Barış Alper Yılmaz blasting a one-on-one chance wide. Pro Soccer Wire had minute-by-minute updates, highlights, and analysis from Saturday's USMNT defeat: USMNT vs. Turkey highlights USMNT falls 2-1 to Turkey That's that from a rain-drenched Rentschler Field, with the USMNT falling 2-1 to Turkey. There are some positives to take away for the U.S., who largely controlled a lot of the play, but two errors — one big, and one a true calamity — handed the Turks both of their goals, throwing away a first-minute lead after Jack McGlynn's banger. It's another instance where Mauricio Pochettino will walk away with more questions than answers, particularly as the USMNT's creativity dried up once McGlynn and Diego Luna came off in the second half. USMNT vs. Turkey: Visitors waste jailbreak counter The USMNT was trying to attempt an orchestrated set piece, but made a mess out of the very first steps. Instead of a short pass turning into confusion for Turkey, the visitors won the ball and raced forward, with Nathan Harriel the only player even close to being in position to defend the break. Fortunately for the USMNT, Barış Alper Yılmaz — in alone after Turkey bypassed Harriel — ripped his shot wide of Matt Freese's right-hand post. Big let-off for the USMNT, as the Galatasaray winger could have simply steered the ball in for an easy goal. Shortly thereafter, Kerem Aktürkoğlu is replaced by Can Uzun, and Harriel is booked for an awkward challenge on İrfan Can Kahveci. USMNT vs. Turkey: Bizarre stoppage finally ends in Turkey substitutions It's a bit of a mess for the refereeing crew, but eventually we have a triple sub for Turkey: Samet Akaydin, Eren Elmalı, and Kenan Yıldız leave the match, replaced by Mustafa Eskihellaç, Yusuf Akçiçek, and İrfan Can Kahveci. Akçiçek's first action of the match is to pick up the game's first yellow card, which is not exactly ideal for the Fenerbahçe defender. USMNT: Brian White on for Patrick Agyemang Play has slowed down as Berke Özer and Eren Elmalı both get treatment for knocks in short order, but as things resume we have another USMNT sub: Brian White is on for Patrick Agyemang. USMNT triple sub: Sullivan, Harriel debut Mauricio Pochettino elects for a 65th-minute triple substitution here. Quinn Sullivan and Nathan Harriel make their debuts, entering the game alongside Haji Wright. Diego Luna, Max Arfsten, and Jack McGlynn make way. Turkey is making moves as well, with Kaan Ayhan and Barış Alper Yılmaz replacing Orkun Kökçü and Oğuz Aydın. USMNT vs. Turkey: Tillman misses golden chance More good work from the USMNT, with two looks in the 60th minute. First, a counter ends with Jack McGlynn turning down the chance to pass to an open Malik Tillman or an even more open Patrick Agyemang, only for his shot to be blocked. Tyler Adams sprinted in to pick up the loose ball and eventually clipped a delicate cross to the back post, where Tillman should have had the equalizer. Instead, the PSV playmaker headed right at Berke Özer, letting Turkey off the hook. USMNT chance sees Arfsten head wide That's much more like it from the USMNT, who move the ball up the right flank via Jack McGlynn. The goalscorer picked out Patrick Agyemang, whose knockdown to Luca de la Torre (peeling wide out of a central position) opened up the Turkey defense. De la Torre's cross found Max Arfsten pushing up to attack the back post, but the Columbus Crew wingback's header went just wide. USMNT halftime substitutions: Tyler Adams enters the fray The USMNT has come out for the second half with two new faces in the mix: Tyler Adams will replace Johnny Cardoso, while Mark McKenzie is stepping in for Miles Robinson. Is that planned, or is Mauricio Pochettino making a statement by hauling off the two players most responsible for Turkey's goals? Either way, the match has resumed. USMNT vs. Turkey: U.S. trails 2-1 at halftime A promising start for the USMNT dissolved into a 2-1 deficit after two big mistakes at the back gifted Turkey a pair of goals in a three-minute span. Jack McGlynn's curler in the first minute was a wonderful way to get going, but a catastrophic giveaway from Johnny Cardoso gave Turkey a 24th-minute equalizer, and a poor clearance from Miles Robinson handed the visitors the lead by the 27th minute. It hasn't been all bad from the USMNT, but the mistakes have been really ugly, and there have been few openings since Turkey got its act together after struggling in the opening 10 minutes. USMNT vs. Turkey formations At long last, we have a lull long enough to provide the formations for both teams: USA (4-2-3-1): Matt Freese; Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, Max Arfsten; Johnny Cardoso, Luca de la Torre; Jack McGlynn, Malik Tillman, Diego Luna; Patrick Agyemang TUR (4-3-3): Berke Özer; Zeki Çelik, Merih Demiral, Samet Akaydin, Eren Elmalı; Oğuz Aydın, Orkun Kökçü, İsmail Yüksek; Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Kenan Yıldız Goal(s) Turkey! Cardoso disaster, Akturkoglu finish makes it 2-1 So much for Turkey having to earn the equalizer, or the lead. First, Johnny Cardoso turned some attempts to build out of the back in the 25th minute into one of the worst USMNT goals conceded in recent memory. Under pressure that might not even be "token," Cardoso dawdled on the ball before turning and passing the ball directly into Arda Güler, who didn't even have time to react. Despite that, things worked out perfectly for Güler, with his block caroming directly into the goal. Cardoso — who is reportedly on the brink of a €30 million move to Atlético Madrid — has been so good in European play, but this will be another blow to his attempts to bring his quality to the USMNT. Making matters worse, it took just two minutes for Turkey to strike again. Oğuz Aydın kept a Turkey attack alive after the initial service bounced through the U.S. box, but his cross should have been dealt with. Instead, Miles Robinson's attempt to clear went straight to Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who duly deposited it into the back of the net from seven yards. USMNT escapes as Çalhanoğlu balloons chance over bar Turkey has come into the game a bit after a grim opening 10 minutes for Vincenzo Montella's side, but the USMNT remains in front 1-0. That is pretty fortunate, as Hakan Çalhanoğlu's 19th minute opportunity was one you'd expect the Inter veteran to put away. Kenan Yıldız got free on the left after a ball over the top caught the USMNT out, but Çalhanoğlu leaned back and fired the ball well over the crossbar. Goal USMNT! Jack McGlynn with an absolute stunner And just like that, it's 1-0 USMNT! Houston Dynamo midfielder Jack McGlynn produced a golazo just 59 seconds from kickoff. It was simple stuff in terms of build-up, with McGlynn playing a give-and-go at midfield to get into space on the right. From there, the 21-year-old cut inside onto his favored left foot before uncorking a 24-yard curling effort to beat Berke Özer. Malik Tillman registers his first official USMNT assist, but to be clear: this one's all McGlynn. USMNT vs. Turkey kicks off Amid some absolutely soggy conditions at Rentschler Field, the USMNT and Turkey have kicked this friendly off. We'll assemble formations for both teams as soon as they become apparent. USMNT vs. Turkey lineups USMNT vs. Turkey: How to watch, TV, streaming Watch USMNT vs. Turkey on Fubo
USA Today
06-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USMNT vs. Haiti player ratings: Agyemang seals perfect group stage
The U.S. men's national team was pushed all the way by Haiti, but completed a perfect Gold Cup group stage with a 2-1 win on Sunday in Arlington, Texas. Malik Tillman continued his standout tournament with an early headed goal to give the USMNT the lead, but Haiti struck back when Louicius Deedson capitalized on a terrible mistake by U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese. The U.S. got the winner with 15 minutes to play when Patrick Agyemang scored his second goal of the tournament with an outstanding touch around the goalkeeper and finish. Mauricio Pochettino's side entered the Gold Cup on a four-game losing streak and although the group stage wasn't always pretty, the team will be thrilled to enter the knockout phase riding a three-game win streak. Here are our ratings from Sunday's Gold Cup group stage finale. As a reminder, here's the Pro Soccer Wire player rating scale: GK: Matt Freese - 4 After a solid opening two matches as the USMNT starter, Freese made a huge mistake leading directly to Haiti's goal. The goalkeeper tried to pass Tim Ream's bouncing ball to a teammate when he should have cleared it. That pass went straight to Deedson instead, and the forward made him pay. Freese wasn't tested much the rest of the game, making the error his defining moment on the night. LB: John Tolkin - 5.5 Given his first start of the tournament, Tolkin turned in a sloppy first half as he lost possession easily and misplaced multiple passes. But he recovered in the second half as he became more comfortable, and delivered the game-deciding assist on a great ball to Agyemang. CB: Tim Ream - 6 Ream didn't do Freese any favors with a bouncing pass back that the goalkeeper could only play to Deedson, who scored Haiti's goal. But the veteran again proved essential to the USMNT cause with his passing out of the back, going an outrageous 107-for-114 on passes including four of six long balls. CB: Chris Richards - 6.5 Richards had a few more hiccups than we've seen this tournament, which nearly proved costly in the first half. But the defender's passing through the lines was impressive again and his ability to win tackles high up the field kickstarted attacks. Will feel he should have scored on a late corner he headed over the bar. RB: Alex Freeman - 5.5 Pochettino is allowing Freeman to learn on the job during this Gold Cup, with mixed results. His passing out of the back was risky against Haiti, sparking some attacks while also causing some costly turnovers. Haiti nearly scored an early second-half goal on a set piece when Freeman lost his mark. Freeman is a great prospect but it remains to be seen if he'll be the answer in the knockout phase of this particular tournament. CM: Luca de la Torre - 6.5 A tidy two-way performance for De la Torre, who won all three of his ground duels, only lost possession four times and connected on 36 of 39 passes. His early through ball for Agyemang was excellent, though the forward likely would've been whistled for offside if he'd scored. Could have also notched an assist when Quinn Sullivan hit the bar off his pinpoint cross. CM: Tyler Adams - 6 Adams put himself behind the eight ball early with a bad tackle that drew a deserved yellow card just 30 seconds into the game. That led to an uncharacteristic total of just one duel all game, which he lost. Adams did spray the ball around quite well from central midfield, however, going 6-for-6 on long balls and starting attacks with long switches. LM: Brenden Aaronson - 6 We saw some flashes of Aaronson at his best, as the winger drove at defenders and put pressure on the back line. Also delivered a great clipped assist to the back post for Tillman to head home. His influence waned as the game went on, however, and was withdrawn with 20 minutes to go. CAM: Malik Tillman - 7 Tillman continues to be the attacking star of the Gold Cup for the USMNT, scoring his third goal in three games with a good headed finish to the back post. Also continues to impress with his defensive determination, as he engaged in a game-high 14 duels, winning nine. Could've added to his goal total in the second half, but saw two goals (correctly) chalked off for infractions in a five-minute span. RM: Quinn Sullivan - 6 Started out with a few hiccups but gradually imposed himself on the game. Hit the bar 30 minutes in after showing great desire in the box to beat his man to the ball. Also tested goalkeeper Johny Placide with a decent strike from the top of the area. An improved showing from his first cap against Switzerland. CF: Patrick Agyemang - 6.5 Agyemang continues to frustrate with some sloppy touches, poor passes and missed chances. But as the game went on, the striker started to wear down Haiti's defense with his physicality and opened up chances for teammates. When he got a moment to put his stamp on the game, Agyemang's touch around the goalkeeper and finish were unerring. Sub: Diego Luna - 6 Had a bad giveaway straight off the bat after coming on in the 70th minute. Mostly quiet otherwise as he helped see off the game late. Sub: Jack McGlynn - 6 Hardly involved after coming on alongside Luna. Just 3-for-4 on passes. Sub: Johnny Cardoso - N/R Came on with around 10 minutes to go. Sub: Brian White - N/R Came on with around 10 minutes to go. Sub: Paxten Aaronson - N/R Came on in the 88th minute and nearly scored a spectacular long-range goal with a first time hit that went just over.
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USWNT vs. Canada: Live updates, lineups, highlights, and analysis
The U.S. women's national team concludes a three-game international window with a Wednesday night clash against Canada at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The USWNT has piled up the goals thus far during this camp, posting two separate 4-0 wins over the Republic of Ireland. While Kerry Abello and Gisele Thompson have left camp early, Emma Hayes still has plenty of players to evaluate in what should be sterner opposition in a Canada side now coached by former San Diego Wave manager Casey Stoney. Hayes has discussed the idea of a long evaluation play of the broader reaches of the player pool coming to a close in the near future, making this match a valuable chance for players — whether vastly experienced or not — to be sure that they're still in the mix come future camps. Pro Soccer Wire is live at Audi Field, and will have plenty of updates, lineups, and more: USWNT vs. Canada: How to watch, TV channel, live stream Jason Anderson USWNT vs. Canada lineups Jason Anderson USA (4-3-3): Claudia Dickey; Avery Patterson, Emily Sonnett, Naomi Girma, Lilly Reale; Rose Lavelle, Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton; Michelle Cooper, Lynn Biyendolo, Alyssa Thompson CAN (): Kailen Sheridan; Gabrielle Carle, Vanessa Gilles, Jade Rose, Ashley Lawrence; Julia Grosso, Emma Regan, Jessie Fleming; Janine Sonis, Jordyn Huitema, Mimi Alidou Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA Today Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USMNT vs. Costa Rica player ratings: Freese the shootout hero
The U.S. men's national team is in the Gold Cup semifinal, just barely. Mauricio Pochettino's side defeated Costa Rica in a penalty shootout after a wild 2-2 draw over 90 minutes in Minneapolis on Sunday night. Matt Freese came up big with three saves in the penalty shootout, helping the USMNT book a date against Guatemala in the semifinal on Wednesday in St. Louis. Francisco Calvo gave Los Ticos an early led from the penalty spot, but the USMNT struck back with goals from Diego Luna and Max Arfsten after Malik Tillman had a penalty saved by Keylor Navas. Costa Rica wasn't done, however, as Alonso Martínez scored a 71st minute equalizer and then nearly won the match when he hit the post in the game's dying minutes. But the U.S. held out to reach the shootout, where Freese proved the hero. Here are our ratings from the USMNT's wild shootout win over Costa Rica. As a reminder, here's the Pro Soccer Wire player rating scale: GK: Matt Freese - 6.5 Just missed saving Calvo's penalty in regulation, getting a fingertip on the shot but not quite keeping it out. Could have probably done better on Costa Rica's second, as he could only parry a shot right in the path of Carlos Mora, who squared to Martínez for the goal. But then came the shootout. Freese made three big saves, giving the USMNT the boost it needed to overcome two misses of its own and reach the final four. LB: Max Arfsten - 6 An absolute roller coaster of an evening. Had an utterly disastrous sequence 10 minutes into the game, which started with a missed aerial ball and ended with an awful tackle for a clear Costa Rica penalty. Arfsten roared back on the attacking end, though, first with an assist on Luna's goal and then with a goal of his own on a first-time finish. But then let Mora breeze through him and Luca de la Torre on Costa Rica's second goal, underlining his defensive deficiencies yet again. CB: Tim Ream - 6.5 Once again brought plenty to the table in his passing game, especially on long balls where he went 7-for-10. Came up with some big defensive plays as well, robbing the ball from Costa Rica players on multiple occasions. The one blemish was his slow reaction on Mora after Freese gave up a rebound, with the right back then assisting Costa Rica's second goal. CB: Chris Richards - 7 Did well to stay focused after an early yellow card from a scuffle after Tillman's penalty miss. Could have scored one of his own, but his header off a free kick was well saved by Navas. His pass between the lines to Tillman was vital in the build-up to Afsten's goal. Once again dominant with his head, winning five of six aerial duels. RB: Alex Freeman - 5 An up and down evening for the 20-year-old, who showed his defensive prowess early with a series of strong plays. Attacking was more of a challenge against Costa Rica, as he didn't get a single cross off and wasted a good opportunity in the first half. His late giveaway nearly led to a winner for Costa Rica, but Martínez smacked the far post with a long shot. CM: Tyler Adams - 5 Not the strongest night for a player usually among his side's standouts. Dropped back between the center backs to get on the ball frequently, but passing wasn't as sharp as normal. Did win back possession several times, as per usual. CM: Luca de la Torre - 6.5 Another tidy display in the middle from the San Diego FC midfielder, who connected defense to attack with quick passing and opportunistic runs with the ball. One of his last contributions was his worst, however, as he and Arfsten let Mora split them too easily on Costa Rica's second goal. CM: Sebastian Berhalter - 5.5 Berhalter's ability to spread play wide and his set-piece delivery continue to be impactful, as is his overall tenacity. Also led all players on the night with four key passes. But he lingers on the ball for too long at times, slowing down play and leading to turnovers. His skied penalty in the shootout could have been costly, but his teammates ensured it was only a blip. LW: Diego Luna - 7 Hadn't yet made the impact he wanted at this tournament, but came up with a big game on Sunday. His equalizer had a touch of luck about it, but took down Arfsten's cross well and got his shot off quickly. Continued to play a part in USMNT breaks, connecting well with Tillman and showcasing his quick feet in tight spaces. RW: Malik Tillman - 7.5 An all-action display for the USMNT's best attacking player this tournament, who was key in connecting and creating most of the team's best chances. His penalty miss was costly, but in almost every other aspect Tillman continued to shine. His outlet ball to Arfsten helped lead to Luna's goal, and he then grabbed an assist with a perfectly weighted pass to Arfsten. A late first-time screamer clipped the post, just missing out on a goal of the tournament contender. Also led all players with five tackles, with his defensive effort a standout part of his game during the Gold Cup. FW: Patrick Agyemang - 6 Didn't get many scoring chances but still played a big role, as his ability to draw fouls and hold-up play was important, particularly on his layoff for Tillman in the build-up to the USMNT's second goal. His rawness is still apparent too often, but Agyemang is impacting every game he plays in this Gold Cup. Sub: Damion Downs - 6 Had a couple decent chances that he squandered in regulation, but sent the USMNT to the semifinal with an ice-cold penalty winner in the shootout. Sub: John Tolkin - N/R Came on in the 84th minute. Sub: Jack McGlynn - N/R Came on in the 84th minute. Sub: Brian White - N/R Came on in the final minutes.
