Damion Downs scored in the sixth round of a shootout after three saves by Matt Freese, sending the U.S. to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 4-3 penalty-kicks win over Costa Rica after a 2-2 tie on Sunday night.
The U.S. advanced to a Wednesday matchup in St. Louis against Guatemala, which upset Canada on penalty kicks in the opener of the quarterfinal doubleheader.
"They showed today great character," U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said.
Freese batted away shootout attempts by Juan Pablo Vargas, Francisco Calvo and Andy Rojas.
"Penalties are my thing," Freese said. "On the plane ride over here to Minnesota I was studying the penalties and I've been studying them all week."