Shoot-out experience will benefit USMNT says Pochettino as his side advance to Gold Cup semi-finals

Mauricio Pochettino was delighted his United States team got to experience the stress and emotion of a penalty shoot-out 12 months out from the World Cup after they edged past Costa Rica at the Gold Cup.

Goalkeeper Matt Freese was the USMNT hero with three saves as the hosts won the spot-kicks 4-3 to set up a semi-final clash with Guatemala.

The game finished 2-2 in regulation and with no extra-time until the final, Freese was thrust into the spotlight and came through with flying colors.

Matty “Ice” Freese pic.twitter.com/Ri6RwsD55f

— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) June 30, 2025

Good experience, says Pochettino

“I’m so happy, so pleased for them. They showed today, great character, I think it’s good for this group of players to have this type of experience,” Pochettino said. “It’s priceless, because that is the reality when you’re in a big tournament, that thing can happen, and it’s important that they start to build the experience together.”

Francisco Calvo put Costa Rica ahead after 12 minutes in Minneapolis only for goals from Diego Luna and Max Arfsten to turn the game in the USMNT’s favor.

Costa Rica weren’t done, however, and Alonso Martinez grabbed a leveller with 19 minutes remaining.

Freese classes himself as a penalty-saving expert and he was true to his word.

“Penalties are my thing,” Freese said. “[On] the plane ride over here to Minnesota. I was studying the penalties. I’ve been studying them all week and was ready for it if we needed it, and the one that I didn’t move on [was a] suggestion from my goalkeeper coach Toni Jimenez.”

The USA gets the job done! pic.twitter.com/42NtH5HBpw

— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) June 30, 2025

Freese takes opportunity

Freese was given the chance ahead of Matt Turner in goal due to the latter’s limited game-time at Crystal Palace last season and Pochettino hinted the goalkeeping position was still up for grabs.

The Argentine added: “I think we have plenty of good players and good keepers. 

“I think Matt Turner [has] the experience because he played in the World Cup in 2022. He’s a great keeper, but the only problem in this tournament was that Matt didn’t play in the whole season, and for different reasons, we wanted to see another keeper.

“I think it’s good for Matt Turner, for the rest of the keepers, to see that they can have the possibility and deal with the pressure because you never know what is going to happen in one year.

“Now is the moment to test, or to give the possibility, to show that they can deal also with that stress and perform.”