Dempsey, Americans brace for Costa Rica

ARLINGTON, Texas — Clint Dempsey is back in his home state of Texas, one goal away from a national scoring record for the United States team that is one win from playing in another CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

The Americans play a semifinal game Saturday night against Costa Rica in a stadium synonymous with American football — the home of the NFL’S Dallas Cowboys, the Cotton Bowl and where the first College Football Playoff championship game was played three seasons ago.

That is only about 180 miles from Dempsey’s hometown of Nacogdoches.

“It’s always great to be home and play in front of family and friends, especially for a big game,” Dempsey said.

Dempsey, one goal from matching Landon Donovan’s American record of 57 national team goals, wasn’t part of soccer’s only Gold Cup games at the $1.2 billion AT&T Stadium.

This U.S. roster for the Gold Cup knockout rounds also is much different than the one that lost to Costa Rica eight months ago. Only five players from that game that are set for this semifinal game — Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez and Graham Zusi.

Altidore, Dempsey, Bradley, Darlington Nagbe and goalkeeper Tim Howard were all added to the lineup before a 2-0 win over El Salvador in the quarterfinal on Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Dempsey set up Eric Lichaj’s goal in extra time before halftime to make it 2-0 against El Salvador.

That game was Dempsey’s 135th appearance for the national team, trailing only Cobi Jones (164) and Landon Donovan (157) on the U.S. list.