USMNT beats Canada in CONCACAF Gold Cup at TQL Stadium after PKs

The USMNT has had good nights in Cincinnati but its 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal match against Canada was truly unforgettable.

After a 2-2 draw, the USMNT prevailed over Canada on Sunday at TQL Stadium in a penalty shootout to advance to the Gold Cup semifinal round. The USMNT will play Panama on Wednesday in San Diego looking to advance to the championship match of the tournament, which will crown a federation champion for North and Central America, and the Caribbean.

FC Cincinnati's Brandon Vazquez, a second-half substitute, opened the scoring with what looked to be the game-winning goal in the 88th minute only to see Canada's Steven Vitoria equalize from the penalty spot in second-half added time.

The penalty kick was awarded for a handball that was identified by a video-assistant referee (VAR) review.

Once in extra-time, Canada's Jacob Shaffelburg beat veteran USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner with a rifle of a shot in the 109th minute, but a flurry of USMNT activity in front of the Canadian net forced Canada into an own-goal in the 116th minute.

Turner made two saves during the ensuing penalty shootout and a third Canadian misfired when Charles Brym hit the crossbar in the fifth round of shooters. That miss clinched the USMNT's progression from a decidedly chaotic contest..

The sold-out match capped a quarterfinal doubleheader at TQL Stadium on Sunday. The nightcap game between border rivals USMNT and Canada was colored by FC Cincinnati's own stars, a standoff that delayed the penalty shootout and other odd happenings.

"I think the match was what we were expecting in terms of, we when what you get in the knockout soccer matches − high intensity, high stakes − you have to be performing at your best," interim USMNT manager B.J. Callaghan said afterward. "At the same time, you have to expect the unexpected and have good responses to moments and adversity, and I thought this had it all. Our team showed great character throughout to be able to get a goal − fight for a goal − and unfortunately we gave one right back quickly. But then we go down, and then just continued to battle.

"We constantly talk about players needing to step up and make big plays. We know we're gonna count on all of the players and tonight was an example of that. You had Brandon come in and score the goal. You had Jordan Morris make a play in the box that leads us to a fortunate thing. And then at the end, you spoke about Matt Turner, the way that he just makes big plays... he's the captain right now leading us and those are the moments where we expect big players to step up."

Vazquez, Miazga bring TQL Stadium to life

Vazquez and FC Cincinnati center back Matt Miazga both started on the bench for Callaghan but their presence in sideline warm-up drills loomed large over the proceedings.

A drab game through the opening hour saw increasingly impatient fans start to chant, "We want Vazquez." In-stadium video board cutaways to Vazquez and Miazga warming up brought TQL Stadium to life.

When Vazquez and Miazga finally entered the fray in the 76th minute, it elicited the loudest cheers of the night up to that point.

The cheers got louder as Vazquez and Miazga, who was strong in the air and sound defensively, made their respective marks on the game. FC Cincinnati supporters in attendance ate up every positive move they made.

"I feel like it's something that everyone dreams about. When you're a little kid playing soccer, you look forward to those moments - hearing the stadium stadium chanting your name," Vazquez said. "It just fueled me. I was just taking it all in and using it to fuel the fire inside of me to come in and make a difference. I can say that I came in and did that.

"Oh my gosh, what an amazing feeling. To be able to represent my country and my home stadium in front of all these 'FC' fans, USA fans, you know, it's such an incredible feeling. Literally what dreams are made of."

An early delay

Less than a minute into Sunday's USMNT-Canada match, the match was halted and didn't resume until the 10th minute. Canadian defender Kamal Miller attempted to clear a ball out of danger by blasting it into the TQL Stadium stands.

But Miller's kick sent the ball screaming into the face of assistant referee Christian Espinoza. He knelt down and later rolled onto his back to receive medical attention before being replaced in the match by an official from the Jamaica-Guatemala match that ended at TQL Stadium around 7 p.m.

The ensuing delay last about nine minutes. CONCACAF officials confirmed after the match that Espinoza sustained a broken nose but was doing well.

Callaghan said afterward he didn't want to pin his team's slow start solely on the delay for Espinoza's injury but conceded it was likely a factor in the uninspired opening.

Canada blinked first

Before the penalty shootout commenced, the eligible penalty-takers on both teams lined up together and linked arms.

The USMNT staked out a position for their line below the center circle on the field, facing the south end of the stadium. Canada's line of players pulled even with the Americans about 15 yards to their left.

But center referee Marco Ortiz needed both sets of players standing on center line at midfield. And when Ortiz attempted to shoo everyone back, neither team moved.

It took several minutes of this standoff, and Ortiz gesturing at two immovable sets of combatants, before the Canadians caved. Prior to that, though, Ortiz was basically helpless as the USMNT and Canada engaged in some intense brinkmanship.

The backdrop to standoff was a pushing and shoving match between the teams that started on the TQL Stadium field at halftime. The shoving spilled into the TQL Stadium Tunnel Club, which players use to access the locker rooms.

The trash talking continued throughout the match and built up to the standoff that prevented Ortiz from allowing the shootout to begin.

"We stayed there knowing that the ref will ultimately tell us to move back," Miazga explained of the pre-shootout staredown. "(Canada) also stepped with us in line and they weren't moving. So, all the guys were like 'we're not moving first. Stay here. We're not moving first. We're not moving first.' And ultimately, they moved back so I think that was pretty good. Little mind games."

In separate remarks, Callaghan confirmed that it was a deliberate choice by he and his players to stand their ground prior to the shootout.

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The USMNT advances in penalties

(Round-by-round penalty results; Canada shooting first)

• Round one: Steven Vitoria’s shot is saved by Matt Turner; Brandon Vazquez shoots high and misses.

• Round two: Liam Fraser’s shot is saved by Matt Turner; Cade Cowell scores. USMNT leads.

• Round three: Kamal Miller scores for Canada; Gianluca Busio scores. USMNT leads.

• Round four: Jacen Russell-Rowe scores; Jesus Ferreira scores. USMNT leads.

• Round five: Charles Brym misses off the crossbar. The USMNT wins the shootout, 3-2, and advances to the Gold Cup semifinal.

Full-time: PK's it is

The teams couldn't be separated over 120 minutes. The match officially goes down as a draw and a penalty shootout will decide which country advances to the semifinal.

Level! Again! (116')

A Canada own-goal resulted from fervent USMNT attacking. Gianluca Busio, Jordan Morris and Matt Miazga were all in the area but the ball ultimately caromed backward off a Canadian player.

Canada in front (109')

Nashville SC's Jacob Shaffelburg might have punched Canada's ticket to the semifinal with an absolute missile at the end of a strong goalward run down the west sideline of TQL Stadium. Canada leads, 2-1, and what a hit that way.

Through 105 minutes

FC Cincinnati center back Matt Miazga had the best chance of the first extra-time session. His headed attempt off a corner forced a sprawling save from Canada goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. Fifteen more minutes to go and if neither side finds a winner, it's off to penalty kicks to decide which country will face Panama in the semifinal round.

Extra time required

The 1-1 scoreline held up through the final minutes of second-half added time. Thirty additional minutes played over two, 15-minute halves are coming up.

Canada draws level (90+)

A video-assistant referee (VAR) review resulted in Canada being awarded a spot-kick for a handball. Steven Vitoria converted the “PK” for 1-1. TQL Stadium is stunned.

Vazquez delivers (88’)

Brandon Vazquez headed home from close range for the USMNT very, very late on and may have sealed the win for the Americans. It's his third goal of the Gold Cup and his fourth for the USMNT across all competitions in what's turning out to be a pretty successful 2023 playing in the Red, White and Blue.

An FC Cincinnati shift change (76’)

Brandon Vazquez and Matt Miazga both entered the match to huge applause. Vazquez quickly rattled off two close chances, too. The fans are eating it all up and there’s finally some life in the stadium.

USMNT denied an opener (68')

Jesus Ferreira took his best chance of the night but Dayne St. Clair, Canada’s goalkeeper, was equal to the task as he made the stop with a diving save. Meanwhile, the TQL Stadium crowd is producing frequent “we want Vazquez” chants. TV audio appears to be picking it up, too, so the chanting is resonating across the country.

Scoreless at halftime

The first half was quite drab, especially for the USMNT. The 10-minute delay after an assistant referee was injured almost immediately after kickoff seemed to put both sides off and slow the pace. After the half concluded, things finally got spicy as there was some pushing and shoving when the teams exited the field after the 10-plus minutes of added time. FC Cincinnati's Matt Miazga involved himself in the incident, which ultimately was relatively minor. No discipline resulted.

Canada denied a possible PK (45+5)

A field-side monitor review was initiated by the video-assistant referee (VAR) for a possible USMNT handball that would have resulted in a penalty kick for Canada. The final result of the review was a goal kick for the USMNT's Matt Turner. The review took several minutes and almost all 22 players on the field stood near the VAR monitor waiting for a decision.

More: 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Luton Town FC's Amari'i Bell scores in Jamaica win over Guatemala

An odd start at TQL Stadium (1')

Less than a minute after the opening whistle, the assistant referee running the sideline on the west side of TQL Stadium was injured and remained on the ground for several minutes. Both benches produced multiple balls so their players could stay loose during a delay that lasted almost nine minutes. The assistant referee and the fourth official between the USMNT and Canada benches reshuffled their duties and the match carried on in the 10th minute.

The local angle

For the first time ever, the USMNT comes to Cincinnati rostering FC Cincinnati players, however 2022 MLS Best XI honoree Brandon Vazquez and 2023 MLS All-Star Game participant Matt Miazga start the USMNT-Canada semifinal on the bench for interim manager B.J. Callaghan.

The doubleheader at TQL Stadium on Sunday was sold-out.

The starting lineups for USMNT, Canada

• USMNT starting XI: Matt Turner (GK, captain), Bryan Reynolds, Gianluca Busio, James Sands, Jesus Ferreira, Miles Robinson, Djordje Mihailovic, Dejuan Jones, Alejandro Zendejas, Jalen Neal, Julian Gressel.

• USMNT bench: Sean Johnson (GK), Gabriel Slonina (GK), Deandre Yedlin, Aaron Long, Matt Miazga, Cristian Roldan, Cade Cowell, Jordan Morris, Brandon Vazquez, John Tolkin, Jackson Yueill.

• Canada starting XI: Dayne St. Clair (GK), Kamal Miller, Steven Vitoria, Lucas Cavallini, Junior Hoilett (captain), Liam Miller, Moise Bombito, Zac McGraw, Ali Ahmed, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea.

• Canada bench: Tom McGill (GK), Zachary Brault-Guillard, Liam Fraser, Dominick Zator, Jayden Nelson, David Wotherspoon, Victor Loturi, Jacob Shaffelburg, Jacen Russell-Rowe, Charles Brym, Scott Kennedy.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Vazquez scores, USMNT survives Canada in PKs