'Penalties Are My Thing': Matt Freese's Stardom Rises In USA's Win at Gold Cup

Matt Freese saved three penalty kicks and Damion Downs scored the decisive penalty as the U.S. men’s national team beat Costa Rica 4-3 in a dramatic six-round penalty shootout. Now, the Americans will advance to the Gold Cup semifinals, where they will face Guatemala on Wednesday, July 2 in St. Louis (7 p.m. ET on FS1).

The USMNT showed intensity, personality and confidence in victory – traits the squad had not portrayed in quite some time. After Costa Rica's Francisco Calvo scored an early goal – on a penalty kick no less – in the 11th minute after a foul by U.S. defender Max Arfsten, the Americans responded when Diego Luna scored his first international goal minutes before halftime. 

The U.S. took the lead when Arfsten scored in the first few minutes of the second half, essentially making up for the mistake he made in the first. But later, he got beat and Costa Rica equalized 2-2 in the 71st minute on Alonso Martinez's nifty goal. The match went directly to penalties following a deadlock at the end of regulation. 

And thanks to Freese, the USMNT came out on top to keep its Gold Cup hopes alive. Here are takeaways from the match:

Win again. That’s the only way to build. – Goalkeeper Matt Freese, after stepping up during the penalty shootout

Matt Freese or Matty Ice?

There was some discussion entering the knockout round of this tournament that maybe manager Mauricio Pochettino would elect to start the more veteran Matt Turner in goal over Freese, who has started every game for the USMNT in the Gold Cup so far.

But when the lineups were released an hour before kickoff, there was Freese in goal again. 

Pochettino can be satisfied with his decision, especially after the way Freese stepped up during the penalty shootout.