USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese saved not one, not two, but three penalties to help Mauricio Pochettino’s men past Costa Rica in a 2025 Gold Cup quarterfinal in Minneapolis on Sunday.
The Yanks came back from 1-0 down but coughed up a 2-1 lead, then failed to convert two of their penalties after 90 minutes.
MORE — USMNT vs Costa Rica player ratings
Diego Luna and Max Arfsten scored for the USMNT in regulation, while Francisco Calvo and Alonso Martinez scored for Los Ticos.
Malik Tillman was one of the American stars in the win, but clapped a penalty off Keylor Navas’ right post in the first half.
What’s next?
The U.S. will meet Guatemala in a Gold Cup semifinal at 7pm ET Wednesday, three hours before Mexico meet Honduras.
The Gold Cup Final is 7pm Sunday.
Matt Freese reacts to penalty heroics
“Penalties are my thing,” Freese said when asked about his big day on FOX after the game. “On the plane ride over here I was studying them. The one I didn’t move, a suggestion from my goalkeeper coach Tony Gimenez. He was the reason that save was made.”
Pochettino’s crew survives and advances, but depth may defy trophy hopes
Those who want to feel aggrieved with Pochettino’s USMNT will find plenty of reason to do so, while those who want to believe will have just as much fodder to back their opinions. The truth is that the Americans have enough individual talent and experience to win this tournament but Pochettino has clearly learned that his selected squad is not deep enough in quality. The ex-Spurs boss did not make a substitution until the 78th minute, days after he rolled with his XI into the 70th minute against Haiti. Johnny Cardoso’s injury status didn’t help things, either. Another note: Malik Tillman has played every minute of the tournament and played three of four halves in the warm-up friendlies. If you had any questions about Pochettino’s feelings about the (reported) soon-to-be Bayer Leverkusen man, you don’t anymore. Tillman is on the fast track to starting at the 10 in next summer’s World Cup.
How to watch USMNT vs Costa Rica live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7pm ET Sunday
How to watch: FOX, TUDN
Stream online: FOXSports.com or the FOX Sports app
USMNT vs Costa Rica live updates, score: 2-2 (USA win 4-3 on penalties)
Goal scorers: Francisco Calvo pen 13', Diego Luna 43', Max Arfsten 47', Alonso Martinez 71'
Penalty kicks
Alonso Martinez GOAL — USMNT 0-1 Costa Rica
Tyler Adams — GOAL — USMNT 1-1 Costa Rica
Juan Pablo Vargas — SAVED — USMNT 1-1 Costa Rica
Malik Tillman — GOAL — USMNT 2-1 Costa Rica
Santiago van der Putten — GOAL — USMNT 2-2 Costa Rica
Sebastian Berhalter — MISS — USMNT 2-2 Costa Rica
Jefferson Brenes — GOAL — USMNT 2-3 Costa Rica
Alex Freeman — GOAL — USMNT 3-3 Costa Rica
Francisco Calvo — SAVED — USMNT 3-3 Costa Rica
John Tolkin — SAVED — USMNT 3-3 Costa Rica
Andy Rojas — SAVED — USMNT 3-3 Costa Rica
Damion Downs — GOAL — USMNT 4-3 Costa Rica
Madness in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/QXc3Z3AzFH
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 30, 2025
Sub for penalties (or late drama)
Agyemang exits for Brian White in the 90th minute.
More subs
Luna and Arfsten exit the fray.
Jack McGlynn and John Tolkin enter the pitch.
First USMNT sub
U.S. forward Damion Downs takes the place of midfielder De la Torre in the 78th minute.
Remember: This goes right to penalties if it’s level after 90 minutes.
Tillman cranks a shot off the top of the bar
Luna to Agyemang to Tillman, not for the first time.
The PSV man lifts the stadium to its feet but his shot from 25 yards clips the top of the bar.
Alonso Martinez goal — USMNT 2-2 Costa Rica
Arfsten’s involved in everything good and bad this tournament, isn’t he?
Bran dribbles between Arfsten and De la Torre. His shot is saved by Freese, but no one’s following Alonso Martinez when Mora finds him for the goal.
Costa Rica levels the score once again! 😱 pic.twitter.com/6cbgRU8EMf
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2025
Max Arfsten goal — USMNT 2-1 Costa Rica
Tillman is at the heart of it again, working a scrappy 1-2 of sorts with Agyemang and putting the ball on a plate for a well-advanced Arfsten.
The would-be Trent Alexander-Arnold slams his finish across goal and inside the far post.
Richards
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 30, 2025
Tillman
Agyemang
Tillman
Arfsten
GOALpic.twitter.com/9iH41cRc9X
Halftime — USMNT 1-1 Costa Rica
The Yanks conceded a bad penalty, missed one of their own, and still emerge even after 45 minutes.
Pochettino’s men are definitely superior but they can’t have more gaffes.
Possession is 71% in the Americans’ favor, and shot attempts are 9-3.
xG? USMNT 1.23-0.82.
Diego Luna goal — USMNT 1-1 Costa Rica
Arfsten’s pass to Luna sees Real Salt Lake’s “Moon Man,” spin and fire toward goal.
It takes a wicked turn to wrong foot Navas, but who cares? It’s 1-1!
THE MOON MAN MAKING THINGS HAPPEN! 🌙 pic.twitter.com/acZYof2VhQ
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 29, 2025
Scrum!
The two teams come together inside the 18 after Max Arfsten’s bid at the rebound is pushed away by Navas.
Chris Richards and Kenneth Vargas are shown yellow cards.
Malik Tillman penalty MISS
Keylor Navas won’t be worried by the pressure here.
He won’t have to save it as Tillman snaps the ball off the post.
Malik Tillman under pressure — USMNT penalty
He’s been the Yanks best player in this tournament and he’s taken several fouls in this game.
Juan Pablo Vargas slides to block Tillman’s 32nd-minute cross and his follow-through includes studs into the USMNT man’s achilles.
VAR is calling referee Walter Lopez to the screen.
USMNT playing into Costa Rica’s hands
Los Ticos are happy to stack themselves around the top of the 18 and wait to counter attack.
The Yanks have shown very little in terms of incisive play until a 26th minute pass from Luca de la Torre to Patrick Agyemang.
The big man slips and smacks his shot into the outside of the goal, down 1-0 in the 27th.
Francisco Calvo goal — USMNT 0-1 Costa Rica
Matt Freese reads it right but his glove can only slow the ball’s path over the goal line.
Costa Rica penalty
Max Arfsten has lit up the highlight reels in the opposition third this tournament but he gives up so much at the back.
And now he’s given up a big chance and a bigger chance.
Arfsten whifs on a needless leaping kick at midfield, then bungles a trap in his own 18 after Tim Ream breaks up the Costa Rica attack.
Trying to make amends, Arfsten recklessly takes down his man.
Underway
The anthems have been played and the ball is in play.
Team news
The surprises are pretty much done.
Matt Freese keeping his place is a very mild upset, but it seemed like his tournament over Matt Turner’s for a long time.
Pochettino using three midfielders who can all boss the game says something about his respect for Los Ticos.
USMNT lineup
Freese, Freeman, Richards, Ream, Arfsten, Adams, Berhalter, De la Torre, Tillman, Luna, Agyemang.
Costa Rica lineup
Navas, J.P. Vargas, Gamboa, Calvo, Mora, Bran, Galo, Alcocer, Aguilera, Martinez, K. Vargas
USMNT vs Costa Rica preview
Pochettino led the Yanks to the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals before they bowed out earlier this year, and he’s engineered a near-perfect group stage at the Gold Cup.
The USMNT have won all three of their matches, conceding a single goal to win Group D and set up a showdown with Costa Rica. Los Ticos were hard-luck runners-up in Group A, beating Dominican Republic and Suriname but drawing Mexico to finish behind El Tri on a single goal in goal differential.
Led by former Mexico manager Miguel Herrera, Costa Rica should prove the toughest test of the tournament so far for the Yanks after Pochettino oversaw wins over Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia, and Haiti.
USMNT team news, focus
It’s been a breakout tournament for Malik Tillman, and the USMNT’s midfield is deep and strong even without several key names. Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso, and Luca de la Torre are among the players who will patrol the middle of the park. Tim Ream and Chris Richards have proven solid at the back, though Pochettino has to choose his man behind them. Matt Freese had been good but made a bad error on the lone concession of the tournament.
Costa Rica team news, focus
Los Ticos are a threat with 23-year-old Spartak Moscow star Manfred Ugalde leading the line, and he scored three goals in the group stage after leading the Russian top flight in goals this season. Young Rio Ave midfielder Brandon Aguilera has also been excellent on this stage, and Westerlo 20-year-old Josimer Alcocer has bagged a pair of goals. Questions were raised off three conceded goals to Suriname and another one to the Dominican Republic, but a nil-nil over 90 minutes against Mexico shows that Keylor Navas and his back line are no slouches.
USMNT vs Costa Rica prediction
The Yanks are due for a scare, and Costa Rica are their toughest foe since the friendly losses to Turkiye and Switzerland. Keylor Navas was solid in a 0-0 draw against Mexico, but Los Ticos back line is not what it’s been in the past. Costa Rica’s Manfred Ugalde is a player but the U.S. has the most dangerous playmaker in Malik Tillman. Herrera’s tournament nous is a wild card here, but Pochettino has looked more and more comfortable with both his Best XI and this tournament. Should the USMNT be on upset alert? Only if they are not alert. The Yanks have shown entitlement in the past but seem to have been properly awakened by the chastening loss to Switzerland. Ultimately, the USMNT depth in midfield and relative strength at center back — speaking in CONCACAF terms — should be enough for a place in the semifinal round. USMNT 2-1 Costa Rica.
