Estados Unidos – Guatemala: Diego Luna Brace Sends USMNT to Gold Cup Final
In a dramatic CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal on July 2, 2025, the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) defeated Guatemala 2–1 at Energizer Park in St. Louis, securing passage to the Gold Cup final for the first time since 2021.
Diego Luna, a 21‑year‑old midfielder from Real Salt Lake, turned in a breakout performance, scoring both U.S. goals early. His first arrived in the 4th minute, finishing quickly on a rebound after a Luca de la Torre shot was spilled. Eleven minutes later, he doubled the lead with a composed strike inside the box following a fluid build from Sebastian Berhalter, Malik Tillman, and Patrick Agyemang . Guatemala responded in the 80th minute, when Olger Escobar, born in Lynn, Massachusetts, clipped a close-range finish over goalkeeper Matt Freese—reducing the deficit to 2–1. Despite late pressure, the U.S. defence, backed by critical saves from Freese (seven saved shots) held firm through injury-time to clinch victory.
The USMNT advance to their 13th Gold Cup final, scheduled for July 6 in Houston, where they will face Mexico. The U.S. holds a historical advantage with seven Gold Cup titles versus Mexico’s nine—but Mexico has dominated head-to-head finals, winning five of seven previous matchups. Coach Mauricio Pochettino praised Luna’s performance as a turning point, noting his hunger and impact. The teenager’s brace comes just days after his first international goal in the quarterfinal, marking his rapid rise as a key player for the U.S..
Juxtaposed with Luna’s heroics, the Guatemala team—and their passionate supporters—delivered a spirited hour-plus comeback momentum, though it ultimately fell short. Their semifinal appearance marked strong progress for a nation playing in its first Gold Cup semifinal since 1996.
The match also highlighted US depth. Contributions from young stars like Malik Tillman and strong goalkeeping from Freese underscored a youthful core bolstered by emergent leadership. With the World Cup less than a year away, breakthrough performances like Luna’s offer timely optimism for a program rebuilding under Pochettino .
The final will now feature a storied rivalry: United States vs Mexico, renewing what promises to be a high-stakes matchup between North America’s top teams.
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