PHILADELPHIA — Against a more talented or more experienced team, the USA’s Concacaf Gold Cup run probably would’ve ended in Sunday’s quarterfinal. The Americans were disjointed and disconnected in some moments and sluggish in too many others, which kept tiny Curaçao—playing at this stage of the continental championship tournament for the first time—in it until the end here at Lincoln Financial Field.
But the USA wasn’t punished. Instead, coach Gregg Berhalter’s men will live another day, escaping with a 1-0 win that sends them to Wednesday’s semifinal against Jamaica. Midfielder Weston McKennie’s first-half header was the difference in a game the USA deserved to win only because of that single play.