US and Panama play 12th Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals, marking Gold Cup history's most played fixture
Posted : 11 July 2023
In the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals, the United States and Panama will face off at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California. This match marks the most played fixture in Gold Cup history, with the teams meeting for the 12th time in the tournament and the second time in a semifinal. Their previous semifinal encounter in 2011 resulted in a 1-0 victory for the United States.
This matchup is significant as it is the first time the teams will meet in an elimination match at the Gold Cup since the 2013 final, where the United States secured a victory and the championship title. They also clashed in the 2015 Gold Cup third-place game, with Panama prevailing in a penalty shootout.
The United States advanced to the semifinals after a dramatic penalty shootout win against Canada. Goalkeeper Matt Turner played a crucial role by saving two penalties, making him the first U.S. goalkeeper to achieve this feat in a Gold Cup quarterfinal. Forward Brandon Vazquez also made an impact, scoring his third goal as a substitute in a single Gold Cup, a record for a U.S. player.
Panama showcased their attacking prowess in the quarterfinals, with forward Ismael Diaz scoring a hat trick within 10 minutes to help his team secure a convincing 4-0 victory over Qatar. Midfielder Edgar Yoel Barcenas had earlier opened the scoring in the match.
Both the United States and Panama have experienced pressure-packed semifinals before, having won their respective leagues in the Concacaf Nations League and qualified for the Final Four. The United States emerged as the champions, while Panama finished in fourth place.
The winner of the United States vs. Panama semifinal will advance to the Final at SoFi Stadium on July 16 to face the winner of the Mexico-Jamaica semifinal in Las Vegas.
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