SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Here's what we learned in Manchester United's 2-1 shootout win over Real Madrid after 90 minutes of their International Champions Cup match finished 1-1.

1. Penalties needed to separate Real and United

It was appropriate that it needed a penalty shootout -- and a bad one at that -- to separate Real Madrid and Manchester United after a 1-1 draw in Santa Clara because neither team appeared totally prepared to show their hand and go for the win, little more than two weeks...

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The setting couldn't have been more perfect for Clint Dempsey.

There he was, in his home state, with 27 friends and family in attendance and even more from his hometown of Nacogdoches. And midway through the second half of a tense and scoreless Gold Cup semifinal against Costa Rica, the United States needed an offensive spark.

As he has so many times in the past, Dempsey delivered for the Americans, setting up Jozy Altidore's opener in the 72nd minute, and then scoring a goal...

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Three thoughts from the United States' 2-0 win over Costa Rica on Saturday night in the 2017 Gold Cup semifinals.

1. Dempsey sparks U.S. to victory

While it might not be quite the time yet to label Clint Dempsey as a "super sub" for the U.S. national team, he played the role with aplomb Saturday in sparking the U.S. to a 2-0 win over Costa Rica in the Gold Cup semifinals at AT&T Stadium.

The result sends the U.S. to a 10th Gold Cup final, where it will likely face familiar...

HOUSTON -- Here's what we learned in Manchester United's 2-0 International Champions Cup win against Manchester City on Thursday night.

Lukaku and Rashford, a return to twin strikers?

It has been a while since twin strikers were the fashion, with false nines and solitary front men dominating the scene in recent years, but Jose Mourinho believes Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford can play together up front. The Manchester United pair backed up their manager's theory in Houston.

They both possess...

PHILADELPHIA -- Just call it "50 Shades of Soccer." Wednesday's Gold Cup quarterfinal between the U.S. and El Salvador had just about everything. There was biting, nipple twisting and, oh, a couple of U.S. goals in a 2-0 win for the home side.

Yep, just another night in CONCACAF.

Jozy Altidore was the recipient of most of the unwanted advances, including a bite from El Salvador defender Henry Romero in the 59th minute. Romero later twisted Altidore's nipple, and both actions had the effect of incapacitating...

PHILADELPHIA -- The U.S. men's national team is headed to the semifinals of the 2017 Gold Cup courtesy of a 2-0 victory over El Salvador. First-half goals from Omar Gonzalez and Eric Lichaj gave the U.S. the lead it needed, despite a few anxious moments in the second half.

Here are three thoughts from the Americans' victory.

1. U.S. keeps emotions in check to advance

For the majority of the first half, the style and emotion fit El Salvador's game plan. There were plenty of off-the-ball shenanigans,...