The United States rode first-half goals from Omar Gonzalez and Eric Lichaj to a 2-0 win against El Salvador in the Gold Cup quarterfinals in Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
The U.S. had looked dangerous from set pieces all night and found its opener in the 42nd minute when Gonzalez got on the end of a Michael Bradley free kick and headed home to put the Americans up 1-0.
Lichaj doubled the lead just before the break after Clint Dempsey's smooth turn and pass set him free in the Panama area with just goalkeeper Derby Carrillo to beat to make it 2-0.
El Salvador had the better of the second-half chances as the team looked to claw back two goals, but a mix of resolute defending and some good luck kept the U.S. in the lead.
Dempsey, looking for a goal to tie Landon Donovan for the all-time U.S. lead, nearly scored in the 74th minute, but his curling left-footed shot was tipped just wide of the post by Carrillo as the Americans held on for the win to advance to the semis.
And the Americans' opponent Costa Rica reached the semifinals after a Panama own goal saw Los Ticos win 1-0 in the earlier game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Opportunities were few and far between in an uneventful first half, with Miguel Camargo's shot from distance the only legitimate shot on goal for Panama in the opening 20 minutes.
Giancarlo Gonzalez had a penalty shout waved off in the 23rd minute after being pulled down from behind following a corner kick and teammate Bryan Ruiz saw two late chances turned away by the Panama defense before half-time.
Both teams looked more lively after the break, with Armando Cooper blazing high and wide in the 50th minute with an impressive strike from 35 yards away.
Ruiz then tried his long-range luck and just missed in the 53rd minute before Marco Urena played him into the box with a lovely flick only for the Costa Rica No. 10 to be denied on the doorstep by Jose Calderon.
Patrick Pemberton made the save of the game for Costa Rica in the 72nd minute, with his quick reaction to a skipping Gabriel Torres volley and subsequent attempt from the rebound keeping the scoresheet clean.
Costa Rica was fortunate to take the lead in the 77th minute when Anibal Godoy inadvertently headed a whipped in cross past Calderon and into the Panama goal.
The semifinal between the U.S. and Costa Rica will be played on Saturday, July 22 at 9 p.m. ET in Dallas.