Before Clint Dempsey entered in the 66th minute on Saturday night in the semifinal of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the United States and Costa Rica were scoreless with the prospect of penalty kicks just beginning to creep into view.
Just six minutes later, Dempsey set up Jozy Altidore for the eventual game-winning goal before finishing a beautiful free kick in the 82nd minute to make it 2-0, secure a berth into the final and tie Landon Donovan’s all-time U.S. men’s national team goalscoring record with 57.
Here is how the soccer world reacted to Dempsey’s record-tying strike:
The U.S. will face the winner of Sunday’s other semifinal between Mexico and Jamaica.
