Pochettino: Experience of penalty shoot-out win 'priceless' for USA

Mauricio Pochettino believes the experience of beating Costa Rica in a Gold Cup quarter-final penalty shoot-out will prove "priceless" for the United States.

The USA are into the last four of their home tournament, with Guatemala their next opponents, following Sunday's nail-biting success in Minnesota.

Goals from Diego Luna and Max Arfsten had given the USA a 2-1 lead after Francisco Calvo put Costa Rica ahead early on, but Alonso Martinez's 71st-minute strike forced spot-kicks.

However, New York City goalkeeper Matt Freese – who beat Matt Turner to the number one shirt ahead of the tournament – saved three kicks to book the USA's ticket to the semi-finals, denying Juan Vargas, Calvo and Andy Rojas.

That meant misses from USA duo Sebastian Berhalter and John Tolkin were not costly, with this their fifth shoot-out win at the Gold Cup, matching Panama for the most in the competition's history.

Pochettino took an inexperienced squad to the Gold Cup, with Christian Pulisic choosing to skip the tournament and many other key players either injured or in action at the Club World Cup, and he believes Sunday's success will be an important landmark to look back on.

"I think it’s important to show control and to translate it to the players, relax them and show confidence in them," Pochettino told reporters in his post-match press conference. 

"But yes, I'm so happy, so pleased for them to show great character. I think it's good for this group of players to have this type of experience. 

"This is really important, it's priceless, because that is the reality when you have a big tournament. It's important that they start to build the experience together."

Freese dived left for his first save, from Vargas, then stayed central to repel Calvo's kick and sprang right to stop Rojas' effort, and he credited goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez afterwards.

"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."

Freese won the number one shirt due to Turner playing a back-up role while on loan at Crystal Palace in 2024-25, though Pochettino says all his goalkeepers have time to stake a claim before next year's World Cup. 

"I think we have plenty of good players and good keepers," Pochettino said. "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."