Canada suffers heartbreak on penalties against U.S. in Gold Cup quarterfinals
Canadians fall to rivals 3-2 in shootout after 2-2 tie following regulation, extra time
A penalty kick converted by captain Steven Vitória in the dying minutes of regulation and a great individual effort by winger Jacob Shaffelburg to score in extra time ultimately weren't enough for Canada's men's soccer team.
The eleventh-ranked Americans edged No. 45 Canada 3-2 on penalties on Sunday night in Cincinnati in CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal action after a 2-2 tie persisted following extra time.
Kamal Miller and Jacen Russell-Rowe each scored in the shootout for Canada. Vitória, who opened the penalty kicks, and Liam Fraser, who went second, had their shots stopped by American goalkeeper Matt Turner. Charles-Andreas Brym hit the crossbar as Canada's fifth shooter to bring the game to an end.
Cade Cowell, Gianluca Busio and Jesús Ferreira all scored for the United States after Brandon Vázquez failed to convert the team's opening penalty kick.
"It's bittersweet, the guys are gutted in the dressing room," said Canada's head coach John Herdman. "There were bright spots from this Gold Cup and we were able to test our 2026 talent pool. There were some big performances from new players combined with the veterans who helped carry and develop a team through the last couple of weeks. I'm proud of the guys tonight."
WATCH l Canada out of Gold Cup following loss to U.S. on penalties:
Veteran centre back Vitória sent Canada to extra time by converting a 93rd minute penalty kick.
A confident shot in the middle of the goal by the 36-year-old tied the game at 1-1 after the video assistant referee (VAR) captured a hand ball by American defender Miles Robinson.
Vázquez opened the scoring for the U.S. shortly before with an 88th minute header.
Canada appeared to take control of the game in the second half of extra time.
Shaffelburg scored his first international goal in style after running with the ball from the halfway line and sending a deflected shot past Turner.
"It was one of those ones where right when I got [the ball], I know what I was going to do. Just take [the defender] on," Shaffelburg said about the individual effort. "It was just an amazing feeling to do it against the U.S., obviously."
GOAL! WHAT A TIME FOR YOUR FIRST FOR <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CANMNT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CANMNT</a> JACOB SHAFFELBURG! 🇨🇦<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeCAN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeCAN</a> <a href="https://t.co/Abrpw69PS2">pic.twitter.com/Abrpw69PS2</a>
—@CanadaSoccerENA Toronto FC academy product now with Nashville SC, the 23-year-old from Kentville, N.S., came on for Junior Hoillett late in the second half.
"Obviously, it's disappointing," Shaffelburg said about the result. "I was at the bench for most of the game, so I was able to watch it and take it all in. Unbelievable performance from all the guys, they put their all in. It's just how football is sometimes."
Canada's fate changed when one of Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair's seven saves of the game deflected toward teammate Scott Kennedy in the box.
The centre back sent the ball into his own net with his chest to tie the match at 2-2 with five minutes to go in extra time.
🇺🇸 score again. sigh. <a href="https://t.co/blKpstNO40">pic.twitter.com/blKpstNO40</a>
—@onesoccerDepleted squad
The heartbreaking defeat rounds out the Gold Cup campaign of a depleted Canadian squad.
Big-name players Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, Stephen Eustáquio, Tajon Buchanan, Alistair Johnston and Ismael Kone weren't named to the tournament's roster. Former captain Atiba Hutchinson, 40, retired from soccer before the competition and starting goalkeeper Milan Borjan picked up an injury after the second Gold Cup match.
Canada was lacklustre in both a 2-2 tie with unranked Guadeloupe in Toronto and a goalless match with No. 116 Guatemala in Houston. A 4-2 victory against No. 166 Cuba to wrap up group-play, also in Houston, helped Canada advance with five points, finishing second behind Guatemala (7 points) to make the quarterfinals.
WATCH | Canada advances to Gold Cup quarterfinals with win over Cuba:
Uneventful and controversial 1st half
St. Clair, taking over for injured started Borjan for the second game in a row, stopped the only shot-on-target before halftime — a strike by Colombian-born forward Ferreira in the final moments of an uneventful first-half.
Despite the lack of scoring opportunities, the rivalry-filled game had its fair share of controversy.
Canada had a possible penalty denied after VAR review late in the first half when American defender Miles Robinson appeared to deflect a header by Canadian centre back Zac McGraw with his hand.
Referee Marco Ortiz, however, saw an offensive foul seconds before during the play and decided against the penalty after minutes of review.
Richie Laryea also called for a penalty kick when he fell in the box in the 25th minute after what the Toronto FC player saw as unfair contact from Jalen Neal.
St. Clair showed up when needed once again in the 68th minute, stopping midfielder Busio's shot. The 26-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for Minnesota United in the MLS, also posted a couple of good saves in extra time.
Canada started with St. Clair, McGraw, Vitória, Miller, Laryea, Ali Ahmed, Moise Bombito, Jonathan Osorio, Liam Millar, Hoillett and Lucas Cavallini.
Liam Fraser, David Wotherspoon, Russell-Rowe, Shaffelburg and Brym came in for Bombito, Ahmed, Cavallini, Hoilett and Millar in the second half. Kennedy replaced McGraw at the start of extra time.
Miller had a crucial clearance for Canada by heading away the ball in the box late in the second half before being fouled.
An assistant referee got hit in the face by the ball seconds into the game and needed medical assistance. The game was stopped for some minutes before he left the pitch bleeding, being replaced on the sideline by the fourth official.
The U.S. will take on Panama on Wednesday in San Diego, Calif., for a chance to play for the Gold Cup trophy. The Panamanians breezed past invited guests Qatar 4-0 in quarterfinal action on Saturday.
Amari'i Bell scored as Jamaica topped Guatemala 1-0 earlier on Sunday to advance to the semifinals. The Reggae Boyz will face Mexico, which edged Costa Rica 2-0 Saturday, on Wednesday for a place in the final.
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