United States 2-1 Guatemala: Luna double seals Gold Cup final spot

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Diego Luna’s first-half double sent the United States into the Gold Cup final following a 2-1 victory over Guatemala at Energizer Park.

The USMNT reached a record 13th final in the competition after missing out in 2023, ensuring they have never missed the showpiece match in consecutive editions.

Luna was the quickest to react when Luca de la Torre’s shot was parried by Kenderson Navarro, with the striker on hand to tuck home the rebound in the fourth minute.

He then doubled his and the USA’s tally 11 minutes later, collecting Malik Tillman’s pass before brilliantly cutting inside from the left and picking out the bottom corner.

It saw the 21-year-old become only the fourth United States player to score multiple goals in the first 15 minutes of a knockout match, and his team never looked back.

The tournament co-hosts defended stoutly for the remainder of the contest, though their backline was breached late on to set up a nervy finish in St. Louis.

Substitutes Arquimides Ordonez and Olger Escobar combined to halve the deficit, with the latter sweeping the ball beyond Matt Freese, but the USA were able to hold on.

Data Debrief: Back on their perch

After a difficult period during the Mauricio Pochettino era heading into the tournament, the USMNT have found their feet under the Argentine and are now one game from glory.

And it was Luna who set them on their way, with his brace taking his tally to three goals in his first two competitive knockout matches, the second US player to do so after Haji Wright, with his performance also extending a perfect record.

Indeed, the USA have now won all 11 competitive home matches against Guatemala, the most games with a 100% record against any opponent on home soil in team history.

They also ensured they remained unbeaten in matches taking place in St. Louis. They have now gone 13 games without defeat in the Missouri city (W10 D3), the longest streak in a single city in the team’s history.