ARLINGTON, Texas — Clint Dempsey is back in his home state of Texas, one goal from a scoring record for a United States team that’s one win from being in another Gold Cup final.

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

It’s 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 Friday. “I have a lot of great memories of playing in Dallas as a kid, and I’m proud to represent Nacogdoches. Being from there made me who I am today.”

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.

In a 2013 semifinal game there when the Americans were on the way to their fifth Gold Cup title, they beat Honduras, 3-1. Donovan scored twice in that game and assisted on the other goal. Two months later, he scored his final U.S. goal in a World Cup qualifier win over Mexico.

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Within a week after Costa Rica beat the U.S. 4-0 in World Cup qualifying last November, Jurgen Klinsmann was out as the U.S. coach and Bruce Arena was rehired to the position he had been fired from a decade earlier.

Costa Rica Coach Oscar Ramirez said Friday that Arena seemingly has had a positive impact on the U.S. team.

“They look more relaxed in terms of what they’re doing on the field,” Ramirez said through an interpreter.

This U.S. roster for the Gold Cup knockout rounds also is much different than the one that played in Costa Rica eight months ago – not just the change at coach. Only five players from that game that are set for this semifinal – Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez and Graham Zusi.

“That’s in the past,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t think about that game. … This is just another game. It’s another opportunity for us to see what we’re made out of.”


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