Luna brace powers USA past Guatemala and into Gold Cup Final | OneFootball

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinals saw the United States earn a 2-1 victory against Guatemala on Wednesday at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Diego Luna opened the scoring in the 4’, recovering a rebound inside the box to strike with his left foot, to place the United States in the lead.

Luna doubled the U.S. advantage in the 15’ with a right-footed shot from the edge of the box, dribbling his way into the middle of the field after receiving a long cross from Malik Tillman.

Óscar Santis nearly earned the first for Guatemala in the 26’ with a header from close range that was just wide of the right post.

Guatemala goalkeeper Kénderson Navarro made a save in the 61’ to deny a Patrick Agyemang header inside the box.

Olger Escobar cut the deficit for Guatemala in the 80’ with a right-footed shot inside the box.

Matt Freese saved an attempt for the equalizer from José Morales in the 90’+2’ to maintain the scoreline and seal the USA’s place in the Final.

The United States will play for the trophy on Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas against the winner of Mexico and Honduras.

FACT

Diego Luna becomes the first player from any national team to score 2 goals in the first 15 minutes of the first half of a semifinal in the entire history of the Gold Cup. In fact, he surpasses what Luis Salvador (MEX) did when he scored 2 of his 3 goals in the first 18 minutes of the first half against Jamaica in the 1993 semifinals.

The USA has qualified for their 13th Concacaf Gold Cup final, returning to the title match after falling in the semifinals in 2023. With this win, they extend their record as the team with the most appearances in the tournament’s final.