The United States men's national team defeated Costa Rica in penalty kicks in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Quarterfinals on Sunday night. The USMNT will next face Guatemala in the Semifinals on Wednesday night at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Missouri.
Here are three thoughts from the dramatic knockout match in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1. Freese makes most of chance after shaky start
Matt Freese made his first mistake in a USMNT kit against Haiti last week — a weak pass gifted to winger Don Deedson Louicius who took advantage of the opportunity to give Haiti an early lead.
After the game, head coach Mauricio Pochettino backed Freese, saying, "This type of accident happens, and it's going to happen in the future, but we're so happy with him and with the quality of our keepers, of course, I mean the way that they are supporting each other."
Freese kept his starting spot against Costa Rica but had a tough start to the night.
A reckless tackle from Max Arfsten gifted Costa Rica a penalty, sending defender Francisco Calvo to the spot. Freese went the right way and got a hand on Calvo's shot, but it wasn't enough to keep it out of the net.
Francisco Calvo beats Matt Freese | Courtesy FOX Soccer
Freese wouldn't have much to do for most of the second half, until the 71st minute. Carlos Mora dribbled past two USMNT defenders and blasted a shot straight at Freese, but he spilled the save, as Mora pounced on the loose ball and passed it to New York City striker Alonso Martínez, who slotted it into the back of the net for the equalizing goal.
Alonso Martínez doesn't miss from there | Courtesy FOX Soccer
Martínez, who had just eight touches at the 70th-minute mark, got the best of club teammate Freese and almost put Costa Rica ahead in the 86th minute but hit the post.
2. Arfsten gets redemption after giving penalty away
Twenty-five minutes after going down, the USMNT was awarded a penalty of its own. Malik Tillman, the team's leading scorer at the Gold Cup, stepped up to the spot looking to beat 38-year-old Keylor Navas, a three-time UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid. But Tillman fired his penalty off the left post despite sending Navas the wrong way.
Malik Tillman misses the penalty | Courtesy FOX Soccer
The USMNT pushed for the equalizer and created two chances for Patrick Agyemang, but the 24-year-old couldn't put his shots on target. The offensive onslaught continued, and it would pay off in the 43rd minute.
A long ball from Tillman found Arfsten wide open and in acres of space on the left wing. The left-back found Diego Luna, who spun and rifled his shot off a Costa Rica defender and into the back of the net for his first international goal.
Diego Luna with the equalizer | Courtesy FOX Soccer
The 21-year-old Real Salt Lake midfielder continues to impress for club and country, likely solidifying his spot in next year's World Cup roster.
The USMNT started the second half with a great passing play that started with center-back Chris Richards playing a direct pass into Costa Rica's defensive third. Once it got to Tillman, he put the ball on a silver platter for Arfsten, whose right-footed shot beat Navas, scoring his first international goal.
Max Arfsten makes it 2-1 | Courtesy FOX Soccer
Despite giving away a penalty in the first half, Arfsten made up for it, recording a goal and an assist.
3. Freese the hero of chaotic penalty shootout
After Martínez's late equalizer, both teams came close to taking the lead, but penalty kicks loomed.
The shootout started with Martínez, who winked and smiled at NYCFC teammate Freese. Freese dove to the left, as El Clínico put his penalty right down the middle.
Alonso Martínez beats Matt Freese | Courtesy FOX Soccer
Tyler Adams then scored his penalty, followed by Freese going the right way to save Juan Pablo Vargas's penalty.
Matt Freese with the penalty save | Courtesy FOX Soccer
Both teams traded penalties, but Sebastian Berhalter skied his over the crossbar to cancel out Freese's save.
Up stepped Calvo, who'd already scored a penalty early in the first half. This time around, Freese correctly guessed that Calvo's penalty was going right down the middle and made another big save.
Matt Freese saves a second penalty | Courtesy FOX Soccer
John Tolkin had a chance to win the game for the USMNT, but Navas saved it. Now in the sixth round of penalty kicks, Freese came up huge for his country and saved his third penalty of the shootout.
Matt Freese saves his third penalty of the shootout | Courtesy FOX Soccer
It all came down to Damion Downs, who ended the game with his penalty and earned the USMNT the penalty shootout victory.
Freese had a tough performance in regulation, but his three saves in the penalty shootout definitely put to rest any doubts people had of the 26-year-old, especially after his mistake against Haiti. There is now a clear case to be made that Freese should be the starter over Matt Turner at next year's World Cup.
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