Diego Luna scores twice as US tops Guatemala 2-1, heads to final

Associated Press ST LOUIS Diego Luna scored twice in the first minutes and the United States hung on to beat Guatemala - on Wednesday night to reach its first CONCACAF Gold Cup final since Luna put the U S ahead with a left-footed shot in the fourth minute then scored with his right in the th for his third goal in two games Olger Escobar an -year who was born in Lynn Massachusetts cut inside and slid a shot from inside the area between Matt Freese and the far post in the th for his second goal of the tournament Freese parried Jos Morales shot toward the far post in the second minute of stoppage time Related Articles Mexico travels to Santa Clara for Gold Cup semifinal amid fan fears of deportations Lionel Messi and Inter Miami exit Club World Cup after - loss to PSG in round of San Jose native Beau Leroux bends it like Beckham but Earthquakes tie Galaxy in Bruce Arena s first home Clasico Bruce Arena remembers greatest Cali Clasico matches as he readies for first home Clasico with Earthquakes San Jose Earthquakes use second-half goals to beat -man FC Dallas - The U S plays defending champion Mexico or Honduras for the title Sunday at Houston the Americans last competitive match before their World Cup opener next June El Tri has won nine Gold Cups the U S seven and Canada one The th-ranked Americans advanced to the Gold Cup final for the th time All five losses in finals have been to Mexico The No Guatemala which has never reached the final outshot the U S - in the last minutes of the first half Luna got his first goal after Alex Freeman crossed for Malik Tillman He touched the ball to Luca de la Torre whose shot was spilled by goalkeeper Kenderson Navarro Luna reacted rapidly and switched the ball from his right foot to his left then shot over Navarro s outstretched right hand Eleven minutes later Luna received cross-field pass from Tillman about yards out dribbled in got by defender Jos Carlos Pinto with a stepover and put the ball inside the near post from the edge of the penalty area Guatemala s starters included a pair of former U S players -year-old forward Rubio Rubin made seven appearances for the Americans from - before switching in and -year-old defender Aaron Herrera made one in and then changed in Rubin put the ball past Freese in the th minute but the goal was disallowed for offside Freese made a kick save on Rubin in the th