The start of the game between the United States, and Canada didn’t last long as within the first amendment an official was hit in the face, and the game was stopped for nearly 10 whole minutes. The first half was a sluggish performance from the United States as you can tell they were feeling the effects from having an entire week off after their victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the final group stage game last Sunday. 

However, Canada was also unable to threaten Matt Turner for the entirety of the first half as they failed to get a single shot on goal before heading into the break. At the end of the first 45 minutes of the game and then the 10 minutes of stoppage time the two teams came together, and there was some pushing and shoving before heading into the locker room. 

With the “Pirate Of The Caribbean” washed ashore and ineffective against Canada on Sunday night, the United States Men’s National Team had a hard time finding goals in their CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals matchup. Brandon Vazquez and Matt Miazga made their hometown appearance in the 73rd minute with the game knotted at zero and almost immediately, they changed the entire game around for the United States.

The atmosphere in Cincinnati came alive as the crowd erupted when they saw them head towards the sideline to enter the game. Brandon Vazquez nearly scored the opening goal of the game with his first touch, but he couldn’t quite get the ball under control and put it on net and it went just outside the right post. Just moments later Vazquez had another electric shot that just sailed over the top of the crossbar although the offsides flag did come up and the goal would not have counted anyways. 

Second Half

The second half was a lot more lively than the first half for the United States men’s national team as they kept making runs towards Canada’s goal, but they could not find one to go in. They did an excellent job of keeping possession away from the Canadians, as Canada didn’t manage to have a single shot in the second half or a single shot on goal throughout the entirety of the 90 minutes of the game. 

Finally in the 88th minute, Brandon Vazquez pulled through with a beautiful header to the left corner of the net to put the United States up by a goal with only a couple minutes remaining in regular time. It was a beautiful pass from Jones to deliver the ball into the box and Vazquez put it in the net to all but officially secure the United States spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semis. Unfortunately for the United States just moments later there was a handball in the box by Miles Robinson.  Canada was awarded a penalty in the 91st minute of six minutes worth of stoppage time in the second half. 

Canada ended up converting that penalty and the United States went from pure elation to depression within a couple of minutes. After Canada converted their penalty to tie the game late, they had an entirely new energy and they threatened the United States throughout the remaining moments of the second half stoppage time. In the 97th minute Cade Cowell dropped a pass off to Gianluca Bussio and he put it in the box for Brandon Vazquez, who had another opportunity to get a game winning header. Unfortunately, Brandon Vazquez couldn’t get enough power behind the header and the game went into extra time.

Extra Time

In the second half of extra time, Canada broke through with a beautiful knuckleball, which was only their second shot on goal in the entire game. Matt Miazga and Jesus Ferreira looked absolutely lost as the Canadians countered a failed United States attack. Turner stretched out, but he was unable to save it as it went just past his fingertips, and Shaffelburg put Canada in the lead. 

Christian Roldan ended up being the final sub for the United States with around 10 minutes to go in the second half of extra time. In a wild sequence with five minutes left to go in extra time Bussio became the last United States player to touch the ball, and it ricocheted off a Canadian defender into the net. 

With the game tied at two the United States threatened Canada throughout the remainder of the second half of extra time. They had several corners but we’re unable to put another ball in the back of the net. Canada had one final counterattack in the 119th minute of extra time and for a moment, it looked like Canada was going to get the winning goal in the dying moments. However, they were unsuccessful and the game went into penalty kicks tied at two goals apiece.

Penalty Kicks

Canada was up first in the penalty kicks but it was delayed, because the players refused to move back to the halfway line. 

• Steven Vitoria went down the middle and Matt Turner knocked it away with his right hand. 

• Brandon Vazquez was up first for the United States and he sailed it over the crossbar. 

• Matt Turner saved the second Canadian penalty and the United States once again had an opportunity to take the lead.

• Cade Cowell put one in off to the left and put the United States up 1-0

• Miller was up third for the Canadians and he put one in the top corner just above the fingertips of Turner. 

• Bussio took the third penalty for the United States and he used a short run up to net one in the top corner to put the United States up 2-1.

• Russell-Rowe took Canada’s fourth penalty and he wasted no time hitting one into the right side to even it back up at 2-2. 

• Ferriera was up fourth for the USA and the Pirate scored past the hand of the Canadian goalkeeper

• Brym was the fifth penalty taker for Canada and he hit it off the crossbar and the US wins 3-2 on penalties.