Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner looked visibly emotional as he dedicated the USMNT's penalty shootout win over Canada to a young cancer victim.
The Gunners back-upto Aaron Ramsdale was the hero as he saved two spot kicks to send his team into the semi finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup after the US rallied during extra time to take the game to penalties. The Stars and Stripes had looked to have edged the encounter after taking the lead in the 88th minute through Brandon Vazquez before Miles Robinson was adjudged to have handled in the box by referee Marco Ortiz in the 93rd minute.
Steven Vitoria then duly dispatched his penalty to level proceedings, forcing another thirty minutes of play — with the momentum having swung in the direction of Canada. With the game heading towards a dramatic conclusion, Jacob Shaffelburg then put John Herdman's team into the lead in the 109th minute.
However, an own goal from Scott Kennedy would restore parity with just six minutes of extra time left to play, with the pressure then falling on the shoulders of both goalkeepers in the form of a penalty shootout. In the end, it was Arsenal's Turner who was the safest pair of hands, shutting out two efforts from the spot to send his country into the last four.
The 29-year-old stopper — who was wearing the captain's armband for the clash — was mobbed by his teammates after his saves denied goalscorer Vitoria and Liam Fraser. Removing his shirt to unveil a message to Malia Jusczyk, as he pointed to the sky, it was clear that the US talisman was determined to honour the youngster who had recently died after suffering from cancer for two-years.
The goalkeeper explained following the game that he works with children affected by cancer and his message was his own way of dedicating the victory to the teenager. Following the match, Turner also took to Twitter to post a tribute to the youngster after her passing on June 14, saying: "Rest in peace Malia Jusczyk, thank you for smiling down on us all."
The former New England Revolution star also featured when the USMNT triumphed over Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League final last month with a 2-0 win. This encounter was far less of a routine exercise, however, with the stopper the only player in the starting XI who played in both games.
After his heroics, he explained how he was able to perform with such precision in the shootout itself, saying: "A lot of the penalties that I had seen on my sheets or in my preparation, most of those guys were off the pitch by the time the pens were there. I just trusted my instincts, really, and typically when I do that, I find myself having a lot more success."
Interim coach B.J. Callaghan also lauded the efforts of the team as a whole, especially after they clawed their way back into contention with an equalizer in extra time to force penalties, adding: "These are the high-stakes, high-impact games that we're looking to play because they test the character of the group, and tonight we showed up."
The USMNT will now face Panama in the semi finals in what will be their 12th straight appearance at this stage of the competition as they look to book a place in the showpiece. On the other side of the draw, either Mexico or Jamaica will await the winner of the other semi final in the final at SoFi Stadium in California on July 16.
