MIAMI: Diego Luna scored both goals as the United States beat Guatemala 2-1 in St Louis on Wednesday to reach the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup where they will face Mexico.

Raul Jimenez struck in the 50th minute as Mexico overcame Hondu­ras 1-0 in Santa Clara, California to reach their fourth straight Gold Cup final.

Luna, an exciting talent who plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer, put the US ahead in the fourth minute when a Luca de la Torre shot was parried and the 21-year-old pounced to slot home.

The winger, who came up through the ranks of lower-division football in Texas, then doubled the advantage in the 15th minute with a brilliant individual goal.

Luna picked up the ball in midfield and dribbled goalwards, skipping a challenge before firing home from more than 20 yards.

Guatemala striker Rubio Rubin had an effort saved by US keeper Matt Freese and then another disallowed for offside to the frustration of his team’s large and noisy travelling support.

Sebastian Berhalter went close to a third just before the break with a free-kick which deflected off the wall and was well saved by Kenderson Navarro.

Mauricio Pochettino’s US, who came into the tournament on the back of a four-game losing streak, were under increasing pressure from a lively Guatemala after the interval.

It intensified after the Central Americans scored in the 80th minute when Arquimides Ordonez dribbled into the box and 18-year-old Boston-born Olger Escobar fired home.

The home fans held their breath in stoppage time when Jose Morales drilled a low shot from the edge of the box but Freese did well to get down and push the ball wide.

Despite the win US coach Pochettino said that the semi-finals felt like a game on the road, adding that the spirit of the opposing fans was something American supporters could learn from.

Over 22,000 spectators attended the match in St. Louis and the majority were Guatemala supporters, loudly backing their team throughout the game.

“The fans of Guatemala, I need to say, wow, unbelievable. It was like, to play there. And that was good for our players because it was an atmosphere we didn’t expect,” Pochettino said, adding that he hoped to see the same passion from American fans when the World Cup takes place in the US next year.

“An unbelievable energy. That is football, that is football. When we say, the connection between the team and the fans, that’s the connection we’d like to see at the World Cup. The connection that makes you fly,” he added.

Mexico, looking for a record-extending 10th Gold Cup title, were pushed all the way by an improved and tenacious Honduras but ultimately emerged victorious to set up an eighth final meeting with their North American rivals.

16-year-old Gilberto Mora, the great hope of Mexican football playing just his second game for his country, created the winning goal with some lovely footwork, as he jinked through the Honduras defence before threading a perfect pass to Jimenez.

The Fulham striker made no mistake with a thundering finish to put El Tri in front at Levi’s Stadium, the home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.

Mexico had the ball in the net again after a free-kick caused chaos and Edson Alvarez turned the ball home but the effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

Honduras pushed forward with increasing desperation in search of a leveller but missed the creative touch in the final third as Javier Aguirre’s side held on.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2025