Jacob Shaffelburg Shines In Concacaf Gold Cup As Canada Falls To USMNT

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Jacob Shaffelburg. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC

The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) defeated Canada in the Concacaf Gold Cup Quarterfinals in penalty kicks, finishing 2-2 after 120 minutes.

The win came after Canada tied with a penalty kick in stoppage and a go-ahead goal by Nashville’s Jacob Shaffelburg to give Canada a 2-1 lead in overtime. But another late USA goal sent the game into penalty kicks.

USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner led the team to victory by blocking two kicks to defeat Canada 3-2 in a shootout in front of 24,979 fans at TQL Stadium. With the win, the USMNT advances to face Panama in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinals on Wednesday, July 12 at SnapDragon Stadium in San Diego, California at 7:30 p.m. ET. Nashville SC midfielder Aníbal Godoy is set to face the USMNT with Panama.

After a near scoreless phase of regular time, the USMNT grabbed an 88th-minute lead via a signature header from second-half substitute Brandon Vazquez, playing in front of his FC Cincinnati home fans.

Canada substitute Shaffelburg found the back of the net in the 109th minute against the run of play. The Nashville SC attacker picked up the ball in his own half, wriggled past Jesús Ferreira and backed up defender Matt Miazga before his low shot was deflected and nestled in the back of Turner’s net. But it was U.S. midfielder Gianluca Busio who forced an own goal off of Canada’s Scott Kennedy five minutes later to tie it again and send them into a shootout.

In the penalty kick shootout, Turner made saves on Canada’s first two attempts, while the USA’s Cade Cowell, Busio and Ferreira converted their spot kicks to push the team to the next round.

The game ended when forward Charles-Andreas Brym hit the crossbar with the final Canada attempt, triggering huge celebrations as the U.S. advanced to its 16th Gold Cup Semifinal.

With Canada’s tournament ending, Shaffelburg will make his way back to Nashville, but will most likely not play on Wednesday (July 12) when Philadelphia Union visit GEODIS Park.

Steven Boero
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