The full-back put in another strong showing in the Gold Cup quarter-final as B.J. Callaghan's team won on penalties after a 2-2 draw
Everyone knew that Sunday's Gold Cup quarter-final would be a different sort of game for the U.S. men's national team. This wasn't a cakewalk against St. Kitts & Nevis or Trinidad & Tobago. It also wasn't an opening game against a very good Jamaica team where both teams took some time to feel out each other and their own new-look teams.
No, Sunday's game against Canada was going to be a battle, a derby. And it certainly was. It was ugly, physical and, at times, mean. This was a rivalry game, no doubt.
In the end, the U.S. stood tall, but only by the slimmest of margins. A 2-2 draw turned into a penalty shootout and then into a USMNT win, with Matt Turner's two saves paving the way for a spot in the Gold Cup semi-finals.
This was no doubt this young USMNT group's biggest test. Jamaica is likely the better team, but this was the more complete game. The U.S. survived, and only just. They seized the lead and then gave it back. Then Canada seized the lead and gave it back. It was back and forth. In some ways, it was a classic and, in others, it was one many who watched it will be ready to forget. That's the Gold Cup in a nutshell, isn't it?
For the USMNT, the Gold Cup is about performances just as much as it is about a trophy. The program is looking for new stars to step up and, on Sunday, a few did, even if the Man of the Match was Turner, a World Cup veteran.
Next up for the USMNT is Panama, another big test, but, before that, they'll enjoy this one as they got one over on their local rival. GOAL breaks down the winners and losers of Sunday's quarter-final clash:
Getty ImagesWINNER: Matt Turner
What can you say about the USMNT No. 1? He specifically asked to be here, choosing to join the Gold Cup squad rather than go on a much-needed vacation. And, goodness, the USMNT will be happy he made that choice. They wouldn't be here without him.
Turner has often gone untested in this tournament, and he largely was here. Canada's only two shots on target were their two goals. The first was Stephen Vitoria's penalty and the second was Jacob Shaffelburg's deflected knuckleball. Not much you can do there.
The USMNT goalkeeper, though, did do plenty in the shootout. He parried away Vitoria's opener as the Canada veteran attempted to go down the middle for a second time. He then made a stop on Liam Fraser, seizing back momentum after Brandon Vazquez's miss.
Turner is a penalty specialist, and he showed it again on Sunday night. The U.S. will hope they don't need to see that side of his game again during this run but, if they do, they'll feel pretty good about seeing Turner in goal.
AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Canada
It went about as well as they could have drawn it up. This Canada team, one without the likes of Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, wasn't one that could run up and down the field with the USMNT, so they didn't. They made this an ugly, physical, defensive affair as they waited for their moment.
And they got it. Shaffelburg's goal late in extra-time seemingly won Canada the match, and you can't say it wasn't deserved, even if they didn't really go forward with much gusto.
It wasn't to be, though. Moments later, Gianluca Busio's shot deflected into the net and penalties beckoned. From that first shootout shot, the USMNT had momentum and, by the end, it was clear that it was their day.
That'll be frustrating for Canada, who, despite a rough group stage, came within minutes of booking a spot in the semi-finals. That's two losses to the U.S. in a matter of weeks, and that'll sting for a program that feels it can and should be able to win these types of games over their rivals.
Getty ImagesWINNER: DeJuan Jones
You won't see many better assists. With the game tied and just minutes remaining, Jones hit a world-class ball. Driving in on the left side, the New England Revolution star fired it forward, putting it on a platter for Vazquez, who would make no mistake. The U.S. was in the lead and, while Vazquez got the goal, Jones made it happen.
We know what happened next: Canada equalized and on we went. However, that shouldn't take away from that absolute peach of a pass from Jones, and it certainly won't spoil the memory his performance.
The New England Revolution star has been a standout this tournament, and it was no different on Sunday. Although he was a bit quieter for most of this one, that can be expected given the step up in competition. But then, with the game in the balance, boom. What a cross!
He was largely solid in the attack, although he did misplace a few too many passes. Defensively, he was everywhere, so you definitely can't fault him there. Few players in this tournament have stepped up as much as Jones, who has delivered assists in back-to-back games to keep the USMNT rolling.
GettyLOSER: Alejandro Zendejas
It just isn't coming off for him, is it? Zendejas has been a frequent subject in these post-game discussions, and that is largely because of the expectations thrust upon him. He was teed up to be one of the stars of this tournament, a player that could take this opportunity and run with it to a role with the A-Team.
It's safe to say he hasn't seized that opportunity, though. For whatever reason, Zendejas has looked just a step off in everything he's done throughout the four games. He keeps starting, and he probably should because he is the most talented winger in this team right now, but nothing he does seems to work out.
Is it harsh to say he may be tumbling down the depth chart? Probably not. Zendejas has struggled at a level where he should be somewhat dominant. Maybe expectations were set too high, but, regardless of what your expectations were, the production just hasn't been there for the winger.
There are two games left, of course, so plenty can change, and he'll have to make it change if he wants to be in the conversation for those initial Gregg Berhalter camps.