The U.S. men’s national team didn’t deliver its best performance in Sunday’s Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal match vs. Canada, but the heroics of veteran goalkeeper Matt Turner helped keep B.J. Callaghan’s squad in the tournament.
Turner made two key penalty-kick saves as the Americans defeated Canada 3-2 in a shootout after the teams played out a 2-2 result over 120 minutes. The 27-year-old was beat by Jacob Shaffelburg’s deflected effort and Steven Vitoria’s penalty kick during the extra time affair, but came up clutch when it mattered most for the defending Gold Cup winners.
Turner denied both Vitoria and Liam Fraser during the five-round shootout, standing tall to punch away the veteran defender’s effort before diving to his left to repel Fraser’s first-ever spot kick. The USMNT sealed the win via successful spot kicks from Cade Cowell, Gianluca Busio, and Jesus Ferreira, but Turner’s heroics certainly boosted the hosts confidence during a crazy ending.
“With Matt, I didn’t have to say much,” Callaghan said postmatch. “He goes right into his preparation mode. He has a great team of people that are preparing him for the penalty kick shootout. He’s going to be prepared and that’s what he was focused on. And then he had the last word before we went out to midfield. It’s just encouraging the guys to stay calm, stay committed to what they’ve practiced.
“He’s a really settling force at the back for the U.S.,” Canada coach John Herdman said about Turner postmatch. “He’s got wonderful feet. His game management’s very good. And he can save penalties.”
Turner came into Sunday’s match with five saves made through 180 minutes of group stage action, while Sean Johnson also made one appearance of his own. Although he was rarely troubled against Canada, Turner failed to make either save during regulation or the extra time period, as the USMNT needed a late equalizer just to force the penalty shootout.
Still, Turner showed a short memory and came up clutch twice against Canada in a match that had all the makings of an upset. Turner’s calming presence at the back of the USMNT defense has been visible throughout the Gold Cup and with a crucial semifinal tie coming up on Wednesday against Panama, the Arsenal shot-stopper now has another opportunity to deliver in a knockout match.
“He just makes big plays,” Callaghan added. “He started in the Jamaica game (where Turner also denied Leon Bailey’s penalty kick attempt in a 1-1 draw). He’s the captain right now leading us and those are the moments you expect big players to step up.”
“The first one felt really, really good because I wish I stopped his [in second-half stoppage time],” Turner said during FOX’s postmatch interview with him. “I wanted to stay in the middle in the end of the game and last minute, I felt like he was gonna whip it so I dove to my right. I was frustrated. So this time, I knew I was just going to try to hold and I came up with a really good save.”