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Key takeaways from USMNT's tenacious Gold Cup semi win

United States of America midfielder Diego Luna reacts after scoring a goal against Guatemala during a semifinal match of the 2025 Gold Cup. Scott Rovak-Imagn Images

USMNT vs. Guatemala: Key takeaways from a tenacious Gold Cup semifinal

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 9:44 PM ET

The United States Men's National Team beat Guatemala 2-1 in a sticky Gold Cup semifinal in St. Louis, Missouri. The win books the USMNT a spot in the 2025 Gold Cup Final in Houston, Texas, on Sunday, July 6. It's the USMNT's 13th Gold Cup Final appearance since the tournament's modern inception in 1991.

Two early goals — both from Real Salt Lake attacker Diego Luna in the opening 20 minutes of the game — sealed the match in the USMNT's favor, but Guatemala gave the team a genuine scare. Los Chapines started the game at a breakneck pace and never faltered or doubted their own bonafides. When Guatemala scored a goal of its own in the 80th minute, momentum fell firmly on its side, and only a sharp Matt Freese save in extra time kept the USMNT from a second penalty shootout in as many games.

That's how it goes in tournament play: The matches you win by hanging on are just as valuable as the matches you win by dominating. The USMNT showed incredible strength and mettle, battling Guatemala in 88-degree Midwestern heat. It earned its spot in the final.

Here are the key takeaways from the USMNT's close semifinal victory over Guatemala in St. Louis:

Diego Luna proved how a "just shoot" mentality can pay dividends

There's no getting around it: The USMNT struggled through the first half of this game. Guatemala was fierce, motivated and technically proficient, and it dominated on many key statistics as the opening 45 minutes drew to a close. The one statistic Guatemala didn't dominate, though, was goals scored, and that was the one statistic that mattered. The USMNT managed to put two shots away despite all of Guatemala's hard-fought dominance.

Were they beautiful, well-worked goals that started all the way back in the USMNT's half? No, of course not. They were scrappy, gritty, opportunistic shots, and they were enough. Forget the fancy footwork and the patient build-up play. Sometimes, when your opponent is as tough as Guatemala was, you just have to park yourself in the box and shoot. Hard.

We saw the best — and worst — of Patrick Agyemang

Charlotte FC striker Patrick Agyemang brings far more to the table than just goals: His physicality, speed, movement and impressive hold-up play are the puzzle pieces that make the rest of the USMNT attack click. If you rewatch this USMNT-Guatemala semifinal with your eyes trained on Agyemang, you'll see him running the whole game off the ball, drawing defenders away from his teammates and opening up spaces for them to run into. He was brilliant in this regard against Guatemala. He usually is.

But at a certain point, it doesn't matter how great your hold-up play is: If you're a striker, you're going to be judged on goals scored, and Agyemang hasn't managed to score one in the knockout rounds of the Gold Cup. He fluffed a few golden chances against Guatemala that could've settled the game and put it away in favor of the USMNT. Whether it's nerves, instincts or just pure bad luck keeping Agyemang's shots out of the net, he'll have to address it before the Gold Cup Final. The USMNT's chances could well depend on it.

USMNT defense still needs time to jell

Crystal Palace center back Chris Richards has emerged from this Gold Cup as one of the USMNT's clear leaders for the World Cup next summer. He's intelligent, hardworking and great at positioning himself around his penalty box to prevent opposition attacks from breaking through. Beyond Richards, though, there are still plenty of kinks for the USMNT to iron out of its defense. His partner, 37-year-old Charlotte FC vet Tim Ream, is still working to build chemistry with NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese, and the two failed to communicate on a few key Guatemala attacks (one of which led to Los Chapines' opening goal in the 80th minute.) Richards may be going to the World Cup, but Ream and Freese still have a lot to improve upon if they aim to join him there.

If Freese and Ream aren't able to level up in time for next summer, does the USMNT have challengers waiting in the wings to take their places? Not exactly. Both players have started every game of this Gold Cup, and they've done so for a reason. Freese's challenger, former starter Matt Turner, barely played competitive soccer last season, while Ream's challengers Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) and Mark McKenzie (Toulouse) haven't inspired confidence in their recent USMNT appearances.

The USMNT will compete in the Gold Cup Final on Sunday, July 6 in Houston, Texas, against one of Mexico or Honduras.

Alyssa Clang

Alyssa is a Boston-born Californian with a passion for global sport. She can yell about misplaced soccer passes in five languages and rattle off the turns of Silverstone in her sleep. You can find her dormant Twitter account at @alyssaclang, but honestly, you’re probably better off finding her here

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