Favourites overcome as last-four takes shape

• Favourites victorious in opening Gold Cup quarter-finals
• Costa Rica finish semi-final drought by edging neighbours Panama
• Veterans play pivotal purpose as hosts USA see off El Salvador  

Costa Rica and USA are by to a 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals after wins over Panama and El Salvador respectively on Wednesday. Neither of a victors overly tender in what were dual incongruous contests on a breathless dusk in Philadelphia, brazen of a pair’s semi-final match-up in Arlington, Texas on Saturday.

Low-key Los Ticos exist neighbours
Favourites Costa Rica edged feat over their Central American neighbours, though it is a compare that will not live prolonged in a memory. It was a stop-start competition via with a usually idea nearing 13 mins from fulltime. A low-key initial half hardly saw possibly goalkeeper called into action. Somewhat appropriately, given a miss of goalscoring opportunities, it was an possess idea that motionless matters. Panama midfielder Anibal Godoy could usually drive David Guzman’s dangerous curling free-kick past his possess goalkeeper from nearby a chastisement spot.

Refreshed Stars and Stripes too strong
Goals within a six-minute spell late in a initial half from Omar Gonzalez and Eric Lichaj were adequate for hosts USA to acquire victory. El Salvador weren’t but their chances, however, and were detrimental not to measure during slightest once opposite a unsure defence. USA manager Bruce Arena done 11 changes for a second true match, including 5 gifted players for a knockout stage. And it was those veterans who set-up both goals. Michael Bradley’s free-kick was headed home by Gonzalez, while Clint Dempsey expertly found a run of Lichaj who was rewarded for a intelligent run behind his marker.

Second idea of a contest nets @Omar4Gonzalez Man of a Match honors.

More from Philly: https://t.co/W16OjGrrfn pic.twitter.com/LvAJVEnxBN

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) July 20, 2017

The numbers
8 – Costa Rica’s feat finished a surprisingly prolonged eight-year deficiency from a Gold Cup semi-finals. Los Ticos will underline in their initial last-four compare given 2009, carrying suffered a quarter-final exit in any of a past 3 tournaments. Panama, in contrast, had featured in 3 semi-finals over a past 8 years.

135 – Evergreen brazen Clint Dempsey collected his 135th top opposite El Salvador to pass Jeff Agoos and lay third on USA’s all-time list. Cobi Jones heads a list with 164 appearances for a Stars and Stripes. Dempsey also needs only one idea to equal Landon Donovan’s inhabitant record of 57.

Coming adult
Quarter-finals
Thursday 20 Jul
Mexico v Honduras
Jamaica v Canada
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale

Semi-finals
Saturday 22 Jul
Costa Rica v USA
ATT Stadium, Arlington

Sunday 23 Jul
Winner Mexico/Honduras v leader Jamaica/Canada
Rose Bowl, Pasadena

Final
Wednesday 26 Jul
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/live-scores/goldcup/news/newsid/290/159/3/index.html