ASN: Semi-Powerful: A Look Again at 11 U.S. Gold Cup Semifinals

As anticipation builds for Wednesday’s conflict with Jamaica, we determined to have a look again at the US’ 11 earlier Gold Cup semifinal appearances. We discovered lots of drama (and a few unhealthy haircuts).

BY

Brooke Tunstall

Posted
July 21, 2015
9:00 AM

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WHEN THE U.S. FACES OFF towards Jamaica Wednesday night in Atlanta (6pm ET; Fox Sports activities 1, UniMas), it’ll mark the twelfth time in 13 Gold Cups that the U.S. has performed within the event semifinals. The penultimate match has been variety to the Individuals as they’ve superior to the ultimate in 9 of the 11 earlier semis they’ve performed in. 

For these questioning, the one time the U.S. didn’t make the semifinals was in 2000. That yr, the Yanks confronted off towards guest-country Colombia within the quarterfinals in Miami and fell on penalty kicks after taking part in to a 2-2 draw.

As we’ll showcase beneath, the Gold Cup semis have supplied loads of theater through the years, providing up historic performances, near-misses, and loads of controversy.

1991: A Rivalry With Mexico Begins

The unique Dos a Cero! For the one time in Gold Cup historical past, the U.S. and Mexico met within the semifinals of the 1991 competitors. On the time, the Mexicans didn’t view their northern neighbor as the large rival they do now. And for good purpose. Nonetheless a nascent soccer nation on the time and only a yr faraway from its first World Cup in 40 years, the U.S. had overwhelmed Mexico simply as soon as in 28 prior conferences courting again to 1937.

However that every one modified on a July day on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. One thing that will change into a calling card for the U.S., a set-piece purpose, proved essential.

Early within the second half half, Hugo Perez, with a head of lengthy curly hair that will have made a musketeer jealous, hit a well-placed free kick into the field, the place it was headed by Marcelo Balboa—so younger that his trademark back-length black hair was nonetheless only a mere mullet. 

Balboa’s flick fell to fellow defender John Doyle, who hit an ideal volley from the suitable facet of the field that simply edged contained in the close to submit: U.S. 1, Mexico 0. (So unknown was Doyle on the time, so surprising was his purpose, that the graphic that accompanied the replays of his strike spelled his identify incorrectly.)

Within the sixty fourth minute Peter Vermes confirmed the U.S. was extra than simply work-rate, health, and set-pieces, flashing sufficient ability to earn a “golazo” name from the announcers when he dribbled up the suitable flank, reduce inside, and unleashed a left-footed blast from about 18 yards. Tony Meola, lower than two years faraway from his sophomore season on the College of Virginia, pitched the shutout to silence the pro-Mexico crowd of 41,000.

So stunning was this end result that afterward Mexico coach Manuel Lapuente resigned and days later the U.S. beat Honduras in penalty kicks, establishing itself as a brand new regional energy. “That game changed everything for us,” Balboa mentioned. “It showed that we could be a power in CONCACAF but also showed Mexico that they couldn’t take us for granted anymore.” 

1993: A grind with Costa Rica

After getting via the group stage in Dallas with a trio of one-goal wins, the U.S. met Costa Rica – the Central American facet that that Bora Milutinovic took to the knockout levels on the 1990 World Cup – within the semifinals within the Cotton Bowl in the summertime of ’93.

By this level Milutinovic was in his third season with the U.S. and he had begun shaping the roster to resemble what he’d use when the U.S. hosted the 1994 World Cup, together with including Roy Wegerle, Thomas Dooley, Cobi Jones, Alexi Lalas, and Joe-Max Moore.

Whereas gamers like Lalas, Jones, and Moore have been simply out of school, a number of others have been the uncommon established execs that Bora had introduced into the fold since taking up.

One such veteran was Cle Kooiman, a former indoor participant who had been one of many first non-Latino Individuals to carve a professional profession in Mexico, the place he turned the captain at Cruz Azul.

Not surprisingly, this one was shut, and went to additional time scoreless when Jones obtained unfastened on the suitable flank within the 103rd minute and hit an ideal cross that Kooiman one-timed previous Tico goalkeeper Erick Lonnis for the golden purpose. It has confirmed to be one of the vital dramatic strikes in U.S. Gold Cup historical past.

2002: Shut Name, Canada

When the U.S. reached the semifinals in 2002, it did so having by no means misplaced a Gold Cup match to a CONCACAF crew in addition to Mexico. So the Individuals have been the apparent favorites after they met Canada, the defending champions, within the Rose Bowl.

The U.S. got here into the sport having overwhelmed its earlier 4 opponents by a mixed rating of 7-1. However with a sparse crowd of about 7,000, Canada held the U.S. scoreless regardless of needing goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld to make 15 saves. (Take a look at the 2:05 mark of the video beneath to see simply how shut the U.S. got here to repeatedly scoring.) 

However after having executed so for 120 minutes, Hirschfeld couldn’t hold the U.S. off the board in penalty kicks as Landon Donovan, Brian McBride, Jeff Agoos, and Clint Mathis all transformed whereas Kasey Keller stopped Kevin McKenna and Tam Nsaliwa on the primary and fourth pictures and the U.S. superior.

A trio of tight matches with Brazil

It took CONCACAF some time to determine how greatest to handle their new showcase event, with the variety of groups, the frequency of the occasion, and the time of yr it was held all fluctuating. And between 1996 and 2005, the Gold Cup featured visitor groups from outdoors the area.

In January of 1996, weeks earlier than the beginning of one thing known as Main League Soccer, the Gold Cup was held for the third time with 10 groups and one in all them was Brazil, on the time the reigning World Cup champions and an enormous draw on each tv and in stadiums.

The U.S. was just some months faraway from an epic run to the Copa America semifinals, the place it had overwhelmed Chile, Argentina, and gotten by Mexico in penalty kicks. Between their kind the earlier summer time and the beginning of their very own first division, the Yanks got here into the semifinal with Brazil believing that something was potential. After Claudio Reyna changed Thomas Dooley halfway via the primary half, that confidence was justified.  

With Reyna operating issues in central midfield, the U.S. outplayed Brazil—which was utilizing largely a U-23 facet in preparation for that yr’s Olympics—and the Yanks had a golden likelihood to take the lead late within the first half when a pleasant through-ball from John Harkes despatched Eric Wynalda alone in entrance of an open web. 

However the two U.S. icons who would share many issues wouldn’t rely a purpose towards Brazil amongst them as Wynalda, then the highest American ahead, didn’t get sufficient on his shot and it was cleared by Carlinhos.

Then, within the eightieth minute, catastrophe struck. Balboa tried to clear a cross from the left flank from Savio and as an alternative struck it previous a helpless Keller for an personal purpose and the U.S. fell 1-0, marking the primary time in three tries that it did not make the Gold Cup closing.

Afterward the U.S. gamers knew that they had let a golden likelihood slip away, with head coach Steve Sampson telling reporters, “You have a team that knows they should have won and one that is very disappointed that they didn’t.”

Two years later, Brazil was again, this time with its senior crew. In February the 2 sides clashed on a chilly and damp Tuesday night time on the Coliseum and Brazil dominated from the get-go, with Romario continuously testing the U.S. protection.

However Keller turned in one of many best performances by a goalkeeper—American, or in any other case—and repeatedly stymied the Brazilians, significantly Romario. One of the best participant within the 1994 World Cup was denied a number of instances by excellent Keller saves—the Olympia, Wash., native was credited with 10 for the sport—and at one level so flummoxed by a Keller saved that he reached out in admiration and shook his hand, mid-game.

“He was on another planet that day,” Lalas, who had a key block of a Romario shot in that recreation, mentioned not too long ago. “It was as good a performance as you can see in our sport, especially considering the level of opposition.”

Keller’s heroics have been begging for a U.S. hero on the different finish of the sector and it got here within the type of Predrag Radosavljevic. 5 minutes after getting into within the sixtieth minute, the person higher referred to as Preki obtained a move from Wynalda, took 4 touches to create house, and arrange his well-known left peg and unleashed a 23-yard laser that beat Taffarel near-post. 

Solely about 12,000 individuals have been within the stands that night time however so legendary has this recreation change into that many extra declare to have been there.

It was the Individuals’ first—and, up to now, solely—win over Brazil and one of many highlights of Sampson’s tenure as U.S. coach. It additionally led to his demise because the upset dramatically raised U.S. expectations for that summer time’s World Cup, solely to see the Individuals go three-and-out.

After 4 tournaments in even years within the winter, in 2003 the Gold Cup switched again to its present odd-year and summer time format. Brazil was once more a visitor and once more it was the defending world champions however introduced a younger crew, with this one that includes some up-and-comers like Kaka, Maicon, Diego and Robinho.

Taking part in within the warmth and humidity of the Orange Bowl, the extra skilled U.S. facet took a second-half lead when Carlos Bocanegra, one of many few Individuals within the recreation who wasn’t on the earlier yr’s World Cup, outjumped a Brazilian defender to get his head on an extended CReyna free kick to provide the Individuals the lead.

In contrast to in 1998, nonetheless, Keller couldn’t hold the Brazilians at bay. The U.S. entered the sport with eight straight Gold Cup shutouts, courting again to the earlier event, and it regarded like that streak would possibly conttinue when Kaka hit the woodwork twice. However within the 89th minute, substitute Ewerthon beat Cory Gibbs solely to have his shot blocked by Keller however the rebound fell to Kaka and this time the posts couldn’t save the U.S.

In additional time, Diego despatched a shot goal-bound however Gibbs blocked it together with his hand. Diego transformed the following penalty kick and with Gibbs despatched off and the U.S. fading within the warmth, a tying purpose by no means got here.

The U.S. hasn’t misplaced a semifinal match within the Gold Cup since.

2007: Canadian Controversy

Our neighbors to the north are nonetheless pissed about this one. Taking part in at Chicago’s Soldier Subject, the U.S. jumped out to a 2-0 lead within the first half when Frankie Hejduk completed a Donovan move within the thirty ninth minute. Simply earlier than halftime, Canadian goalkeeper Pat Onstad dropped DaMarcus Beasley within the penalty space and Donovan transformed. 

The U.S. let the Canadians again into the match when substitute Ian Hume beat Keller to make it 2-1. The Canadians began swarming and issues went from unhealthy to worse within the 88th minute when Michael Bradley, then simply 19, obtained a silly crimson card for after a deal with from behind on Julian DeGuzman.

With momentum in its favor, Canada’s confidence grew and in added time a move caromed off Oguchi Onyewu’s head and fell to Atiba Hutchinson, who calmly beat Keller for the obvious tying purpose. However, regardless of replays exhibiting Hutchinson even with the U.S. backline when the preliminary move was made, Mexican referee Benito Archundia dominated no purpose. Choose for your self.

Onyewu “clearly headed the ball down in the box,” Canada coach Stephen Hart mentioned afterwards. “It can not be offside.”

2011: Taking part in Towards Panama

The U.S. entered the 2011 semifinal with Panama with main questions being requested of it. In any case, earlier within the event’s group stage, Panama had shocked the U.S. 2-1 in Tampa, the one time in Gold Cup historical past the U.S. misplaced earlier than the knockout stage.

With the U.S. persevering with to battle, Bob Bradley, in what turned-out to be his second-to-last recreation as head coach, made some daring strikes. Having benched Donovan after he’d missed time to attend his sister’s wedding ceremony earlier within the event, Bradley inserted Donovan at halftime for Sacha Kljestan. Within the 66th minute, with the U.S. nonetheless struggling and needing a spark, Bradley then turned to the top of his bench and gave former phenom Freddy Adu his first cap in two years. 

The transfer paid virtually on the spot dividends. Within the 77th minute Adu collected a move on the U.S. facet of the middle circle, lifted his head, and performed an extended, diagonal move down the suitable flank for Donovan, who ran onto it and hit Clint Dempsey with an ideal cross that Dempsey completed simply contained in the far submit for the sport’s solely purpose.

“It was a great ball from Freddy to open up Landon,” Dempsey mentioned. “All I had to do was put my foot on it.” 

2005, 2009, 2013: A New Rivalry Is Born

When the U.S. squeaked by Honduras 2-1 to open the group stage of this yr’s Gold Cup, there was a purpose the Individuals have been happy to have escaped with a win. In any case, the Catrachos had been to the final two World Cups, have been the final crew to beat the U.S. at dwelling in World Cup qualifying (again in 2001), and been to the semifinals of 4 of the previous 5 Gold Cups. 

In three of these, Honduras confronted off towards the U.S.—starting in 2005 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Within the thirtieth minute of that contest a sloppy move by Frankie Hejduk was intercepted by Milton Nunez, who proceeded to separate the U.S. protection with a pleasant via ball that gave Ivan Guerrero acres of house. Guerrero calmly beat Keller to provide the Hondurans the lead.

It didn’t seem to be the guests would relinquish it however within the 86th minute John O’Brien reminded us what he may when wholesome, operating on to a poor clearance—attributable to stress from  Donovan—and one-timing the tying purpose.

In stoppage time, with additional time looming, Donovan despatched a free kick into the field for his former Bradenton teammate Onyewu. Only a few video games into his nationwide crew tenure, Onyewu simply headed within the profitable purpose.

“A lot of teams don’t keep fighting there,” Donovan, advised reporters afterward. “A lot teams kind of throw the towel in and say that’s it.”

4 years later, the identical groups met once more within the semifinals in Chicago as Bob Bradley used a largely experimental lineup that featured the likes of Troy Perkins, Jay Heaps, Logan Pause, and Kyle Beckerman (who entered the event with simply three caps).

The U.S. had already overwhelmed Honduras 2-0 within the group stage of the 2009 Gold Cup and it duplicated that scoreliine within the semifinal. Perkins needed to make a pleasant save within the twentieth minute to disclaim Marvin Chavez in a recreation that stayed shut all through. Simply earlier than the break Clarence Goodson transformed a Stuart Holden nook. After some tense moments within the second half that noticed Perkins deny Carlos Pricey within the eighty fifth minute, Kenny Cooper tapped in a Holden move simply earlier than the ultimate whistle.

Quick-forward to 2 years in the past, this time within the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium. In Jurgen Klinsmann’s first Gold Cup, Eddie Johnson and Donovan scored early within the first half to eradicate most of Honduras’ hopes. The Catrachos briefly obtained a lifeline when Nery Medina scored within the 52nd however earlier than the group had settled down, Donovan struck a minute later to provide the U.S. a 3-1 lead that by no means modified.

The purpose was Donovan’s Gold Cup-leading fifth of the event and the 56th and second-to-last of his nationwide crew profession.

So inform us—what’s your favourite semifinal second? The Feedback part is open for enterprise.