That’s all for now. Thanks as always for following along with us and do check back the match report below.
Updated
Full time: USA 2-0 El Salvador
And there’s the final whistle and the United States will survive, but questions will persist entering Saturday’s semi-final against Costa Rica in Arlington.
90 min: The fourth official signals for three minutes of stoppage time.
87 min: Hometown favorite Chris Pontius, who plays club ball with the Philadelphia Union, enters the game for Darlington Nagbe as the United States’ final sub.
85 min: A bit of a ragged performance from the US, especially the back four. It looks as if it won’t cost them today, but they’ll need to do better on Saturday against Costa Rica if they hope to make it back to the Gold Cup final.
82 min: El Salvador make their final sub as Alas enters for Bonilla
78 min: El Salvador makes their second sub as Edwin Sánchez enters for Dennis Pineda. Tonight’s official attendance is announced: 31,615.
75 min: Dempsey lets fly from outside the area but Carrillo makes the diving save.
73 min: The US back four are caught in transition once more. Zalaya nearly beats Howard at the far post, but Bradley arrives in the nick in time to deflect it and it’s cleared.
68 min: For a sense of the dark arts in practice by El Salvador tonight ...
El Luis Suarez de la #CopaOro2017 pic.twitter.com/lq59uLJla9
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) July 20, 2017
66 min: Here’s the first change of the game for the US as Jordan Morris comes in for Paul Arriola.
63 min: Another near-goal for El Salvador. Gonzalez let a cross into the area bounce inside the six-yard box and Pineda very nearly pounces on it for a goal, but he’s unable to convert and the US are still ahead. Moments later the visitors win their first corner of the night.
58 min: And El Salvador has a quick counter and it goes over Morrow’s head and the visitors have numbers! But Zalaya takes a moment too many and the US is able to track back and disrupt the attack. But man, oh man, that was the third clear-cut opportunity for El Salvador, who are unlucky to have not scored once tonight.
56 min: The US with a nice build-up over the last few minutes but nothing to show for it. Zardes then makes a turn down the touchline and tries to cross it but it goes out for a corner.
52 min: Pineda intercepts a pass from Nagbe and carries the ball about 20 yards, brushing aside Lichaj and then having a go from outside the area that beats Howard to his right but skids just wide left of the goal.
49 min: Another careless pass by Hedges and Zalaya has a go from 20 yards by skies it over the crossbar.
47 min: Larin is down hard and stretchered off. And moments later Lichaj is down after a high and reckless challenge from Bonilla. A very physical match right now and referee Drew Fisher’s laissez-faire approach is really under the spotlight.
46 min: And we’re off and running in the second half. The scoreline looks great for the United States even if it hasn’t been the most compelling performance.
Half-time: USA 2-0 El Salvador
What a finish for the US after a lackluster start. The first goal possibly against the run of play, the second undoubtedly breaking it wide open.
GOAL! USA 2-0 El Salvador (Lichaj, 45+2min)
A quick counter-attack by the US, Morrow finds Dempsey, who picks out a cutting Lichaj, who beats the keeper to the far post for his first international goal! What a run by Lichaj and what a way to break his maiden!
Eric Lichaj fue el autor del segundo gol de #USA. Mira la jugada #CopaOro2017 #USAvSLV pic.twitter.com/7GNiIJZoY6
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) July 20, 2017
By the way, this Gold Cup opportunity means so much to Lichaj that he's flying his wife and 2 kids to every game/venue on his own dime.
— Brian Straus (@BrianStraus) July 20, 2017
Updated
45 min: The fourth official signals for three minutes of stoppage time.
43 min: We’re told Bradley’s 22nd career assist moves him level with Cobi Jones for second all time in US soccer history.
GOAL! USA 1-0 El Salvador (Gonzalez, 41 min)
The USA finally break through for a goal and it’s Omar Gonzalez with the header off Bradley’s free kick toward the far post! Wow! It’s Gonzalez’s second goal in as many games after only one in his first 40 international matches.
37 min: Orellana goes down in a heap and there’s no whistle to the horror of the El Salvador fans behind the USA goal.
33 min: Altidore catches Ceren’s leg and is irate as the referee whistles him for a foul. Ceren is down and the medical staff is out for treatment. He’s on his feet as both sides retreat to their benches for a quick water break.
30 min: A half hour down and overall a sloppy opening act for the United States, who have been imprecise in their passing and occasionally disorganized on defense, even if El Salvador haven’t been able to make them pay for it.
28 min: Some nice interplay by the US up the left side and Zardes slips it to Morrow, who is hacked down badly on the edge of the area. A free kick for the USA. Bradley stands over it and sends it toward Dempsey on the far post but Carrillo punches it away.
25 min: A very physical match. Getting a bit chippy.
21 min: Referee Drew Fisher shows Darlington Nagbe a rare yellow for a late challenge. That’s only the sixth booking of Nagbe’s career for club and country in seven years as a professional.
18 min: USA on the attack again and Dempsey picks out Zardes, who puts it past the keeper into the far side of the net for a goal ... and, oh dear, the offside flag is up! The goal won’t count. But an instant replay in the booth up here in the press box shows that’s a very iffy call. Unlucky!
17 min: Altidore turns on a pass by Nagbe and puts a shot on goal but it’s saved.
14 min: Given away by Hedges, who’s having a rough start to tonight’s game, and El Salvador are on the break again. USA track back nicely though and Zalaya’s shot from outside the area is easily corralled by Howard.
10 min: Free kick is played short to the left back Larin, but he fires it into traffic and it’s cleared. Some really good chances for El Salvador early.
8 min: Another chance for Zalaya as Hedges is beat by the near post. It’s turned away but moments after El Salvador win a free kick on the corner of the area.
7 min: The USA win a corner and Bradley’s offering falls to Dempsey but Carrillo makes the save. Another corner for the USA and more danger for El Salvador but it’s ultimately cleared.
4 min: Nothing comes of the USA corner and El Salvador quickly counters ... and Lichaj gives it away badly and Zalaya is all alone with only Howard to beat! Howard sprints off his line and throws himself at the ball and Zalaya goes flying! No whistle. Disaster averted!
3 min: El Salvador pressing high and it’s put through to Paul Arriola, who is free on goal and a late tackle puts it out for a USA corner.
1 min: And they’re off! The USA attacking from right to left in their brand new Gold Cup home kits, El Salvador from left to right in all-white strips.
The thermometer only says 86F and the sun’s gone down, but at 60% it’s positively sweltering here at Lincoln Financial Field. The lower bowl at the home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles is mostly full with pockets of fans in the upper two decks. Frankly, it feels like close to a 50/50 crowd as the teams emerge from the tunnels on to the pitch.
Lots of late-arriving fans filing into their seats from the tailgate parties outside. There’s a Kendrick Lamar gig at the Wells Fargo Center next door, so the parking lots were especially lively tonight.
The teams!
Here’s a look at tonight’s teams. For the second straight match, Bruce Arena makes wholesale changes with 11 new players getting the call. Five of the team’s six roster additions start the match: Altidore, Bradley, Dempsey, Howard and Nagbe. Tournament regulations state that players added to the roster after the Group Stage must wear numbers 24 through 29.
United States
XI: T Howard, O González, E Lichaj, M Hedges, J Morrow, M Bradley, D Nagbe, P Arriola, G Zardes, J Altidore, C Dempsey
Subs: J González, B Hamid, M Besler, J Villafaña, M Miazga, G Zusi, K Acosta, C Pontius, J Corona, D McCarty, J Morris, J Agudelo
El Salvador
XI: D Carrillo, I Mancia, H Romero, B Tamacas, D Cerén, A Larín, G Mayén, N Orellana, N Bonilla, D Pineda, R Zelaya
Subs: B Villalobos, O Arroyo, R Domínguez, M Molina, R Marroquin, R Menjívar, A Flores, V García, Ó Cerén, E Burgos, E Sánchez, H Alas
Hello and welcome to South Philadelphia and tonight’s Gold Cup quarter-final between the United States and El Salvador. Costa Rica has just seen off Panama in first match of tonight’s double-header, winning 1-0 on an Anibal Godoy own goal amid sweltering 87F conditions. They advance to face the winner of the forthcoming nightcap between the hosts and Los Cuscatlecos in Saturday’s semi-final in Arlington.
Kickoff is just about 40 minutes away. We’ll be back with the teams shortly.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look back at the United States’ group-stage finale against Nicaragua on Saturday.
