Concacaf

Gold Cup | Darlington Nagbe, David Guzmán help respective national teams to victories

Darlington Nagbe, USMNT vs. El Salvador, 7.19.17

After respective CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal wins on Wednesday, Darlington Nagbe and the U.S. Men’s National Team are set to face off against David Guzmán and Costa Rica July 22 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (6:30pm PT | FS1, Univision).


Guzmán and Costa Rica came away 1-0 winners over Panama during their Wednesday matinee in Philadelphia, thanks to an own goal off the head of Los Canaleros Anibal Godoy via a 77th minute free kick from Guzmán.


The goal occurred as the Timbers midfielder sent a free kick from 35 yards out into the center of the Panamanian box. Godoy, in an attempt to clear the ball from danger, tipped it off his forehead and past the outstretched gloves of a diving José Calderon.

Guzmán was in the middle of the action all night, playing a full 90 minutes and taking five corner kicks.


With the win, Los Ticos move on to their first Gold Cup semi final since 2009. Costa Rica reached the quarterfinals in each of the last three Gold Cup competitions but had failed to advance to the next round.
In his 2017 Gold Cup debut on his 27th birthday, Darlington Nagbe went 87 minutes for the the USMNT in their 2-0 win over El Salvador.

Nagbe was one of six players called up by head coach Bruce Arena prior to Wednesday night’s quarterfinal, five of whom were part of the starting XI.

Minutes before halftime, the United States tallied a goal off the head of Omar Gonzalez before Eric Lichaj doubled up El Salvador two minutes into first-half stoppage time.


The two goals would be the difference as the United States would hold on to shut out El Salvador to set up Saturday's match against Guzmán and Costa Rica.