Luna Shines Bright as USMNT Scrapes Past Guatemala to Reach Gold Cup Final
What a night in St. Louis. You could feel the intensity from kickoff, and just four minutes in, it was Diego Luna who lit up Energizer Park with a poacher's finish off a rebound from Luca de la Torre’s shot. And just like that, the U.S. was off and running. Ten minutes later, Luna struck again, this time with a laser from outside the box—no lucky bounce, just pure class. Two goals inside the opening 15 minutes. It looked like the U.S. Men's National Team might cruise into the final.
But of course, it’s never that easy, is it?
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Despite the strong start, the match turned into a gritty, nervy battle. Guatemala, ranked 106th in the world, refused to back down. In the 80th minute, Olger Escobar smashed one into the bottom corner, and suddenly the atmosphere shifted. The pressure was on. The final 10 minutes were frantic—balls whipped into the box, last-ditch tackles, and Matt Freese called into action more than once. It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough. The U.S. hung on and punched their ticket to the Gold Cup final for the 13th straight time.
Diego Luna’s performance was the highlight of the night. Five games into this tournament, and he’s already got three goals and two assists. He’s not just playing well—he’s playing like a star. Mauricio Pochettino has clearly unlocked something in him, giving Luna the freedom to express himself, knowing the team behind him has his back. And it shows. The confidence, the rhythm, the execution—it’s all there.
Even without big names like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Folarin Balogun, this U.S. side is delivering. Youngsters like Malik Tillman and Patrick Agyemang are stepping up. Tillman, in particular, is turning heads with his all-around game despite taking some knocks—six fouls suffered in the last match alone.
It’s a team finding its identity in real time, and under Pochettino’s leadership, that identity is starting to look resilient, dynamic, and fearless.
Now, they head to Houston for the final—one more game, one more chance at glory. Whether it's against Mexico or Honduras, it won't be easy. But this squad, bruised, battle-tested, and growing in confidence, is ready. Luna said it best: this game is about moments, and right now, the U.S. is learning how to seize them.
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