After a draw in its opening match against Panama, tournament debutants Qatar is currently on a three-match winning streak with victories over Grenada, Honduras, and El Salvador. The team’s offence is averaging three goals a match and is the tournament leader with 12 goals overall.
Qatar’s Almoez Ali is currently the competition’s top scorer with four goals while Abdulaziz Hatem and Akram Afif follow close with three and two respectively. Homam Ahmed, Hassan al-Haydos, and Mohamed Muntari each have one goal apiece.
Although Qatar has shined offensively, it has had struggles defending in the second half of games. The team has allowed five goals, all of which have been scored after the 50th minute. Qatar will depend on its goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham to help get it past the US. Barsham has posted four saves in the quarter-final against El Salvador, a 3-2 win, and has nine total throughout the competition. Today will mark the first meeting between the two teams at the Gold Cup. The United States is a perfect 4-0-0 with victories over Haiti, Martinique, Canada, and Jamaica. “Without a doubt it’ll be difficult,” US coach Gregg Berhalter said. “Qatar has looked great in this tournament. They are already in the semi-finals. That gives you a warning.”
US midfielder Cristian Roldan, who plays for Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders, knows Qatar will be tough to crack but intends to live up to high expectations from within. “We have high aspirations as a team,” Roldan said. “Qatar is going to be really difficult. They play in a 5-3-2, they’re really difficult to break down and they’re a transition team, so we have to be smart.”
Meanwhile, defending champion Mexico will face Canada at Houston. Eight-time champion Mexico defeated the US 1-0 in the 2019 final.
The Canadians, who were edged 1-0 by the United States in the group stage, will try to become the first nation to score against El Tricolor. Canada beat Mexico 2-1 in the 2000 quarter-finals in their only prior meeting in a knockout round matchup.
Cyle Larin and Stephen Eustaquio each have three goals to lead the Canadians into their first semi-final since 2007, while Rogelio Funes Mori has three goals to pace Mexico. “We just have to play our game and focus on ourselves, put in a good performance and try to set up in the best possible way to win the game,” Canada winger Tajon Buchanan said. “To be here now and in the semi-final against a top side like Mexico, it’s a lot to take in.”
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