Matt Fraz made three savings in the shootout and Damian Down scored the winner at the bottom of the sixth round as the US defeated Costa Rica 4-3 on a penalty in Miniapolis on Sunday, so that the CICOD Gold Cup semi-finals could be carried forward.
Fraz rejected Andy Rosas in sixth place for its second consecutive stop, before Downs scored in the down corner.
The match was tied 2–2 after 90 minutes and went straight into the penalty.
The US played the role of Guatemala in St. Louis on Wednesday, which was for the right to face Mexico or Honduras in Houston on 6 July. Guatemala defeated Canada 6–5 on a penalty after a 1–1 draw on Sunday.
Max Arfasten gave the US a 2–1 lead in the 47th minute with his first international target, Costa Rica tied it in the 71st when Alonso Martinez scored the rebound after Carlos Mora saved a shot by Fraz, a Fraz, a FRAzz of his New York City FC team.
Arfsen had a target and a support and Diego Luna scored his first American goal in the 43rd minute.
Francisco Calvo changed a punishment in the 12th minute for the first time in the tournament in the 12th minute. The target came after ArfSen fouled Kenneth Varga on the right side of the box.
The US failed to tie it in the 37th minute when Malik Tilman Juan Pablo missed a penalty after putting the stud in his ankle. The video review was followed by a foul and a yellow card.
Tilman, who leads the US with three goals, removed PK from the left post in the 37th minute. Arfsten tried to score on the rebound, but Keeler Navas saved for a corner kick, increasing a close-to-close.
Luna made it 1–1 with the help of Arfsten when her shot shut down Costa Rikon defender Alexis Gamboa. Four minutes later, Arfsten scored a leading pass by Tilman and amended for his fine.
Tilman hit the crossbar in the 76th, while Martinez gave a smack to the left post after nine minutes.
-Bield level media
