Portland Timbers midfielderDarlington Nagbe and the U.S. Men’s National Team are headed to the CONCACAF 2017 Gold Cup Final after defeating David Guzmán and the Costa Rica national team Saturday night by a final of 2-0.
The semifinal match was decided via goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey, who each scored in the USMNT victory.
Nagbe and Guzmán each got the start in Saturday’s semifinal, with Guzmán playing 80 minutes for the Ticos and Darlington going the full 90.
The game remained scoreless through 70 minutes until the USMNT broke through first. Nagbe laid off a ball to Dempsey who dribbled through traffic before sending a through ball to Jozy Altidore. Altidore one-timed the ball with his left boot, beating Costa Rican keeper Patrick Pemberton.
The U.S. doubled up Costa Rica in the 82nd minute when Dempsey scored on a free-kick a few yards outside the box. His shot bounced inside the near post and past the outstretched gloves of Pemberton.
With the win, the Yanks advance to the Gold Cup final for the sixth time in the last seven years.
The USMNT will now await the results of tomorrow’s Jamaica vs. Mexico semi-final (6:00pm PT, FS1) to determine who they will face in the final on July 26 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA (6:30pm PT, FS1).
