There are two dominant teams in the CONCACAF region. One has already booked their place in the 2011 Gold Cup Final, the other needs to just beat Honduras to book their own place. If Mexico takes care of business later this evening, they will meet tournament co-favorites USA in the finals on Saturday.
The United States worked until the 77th minute until they finally scored the game winner on a fantastic play that began with two nice passes from Freddy Adu and Landon Donovan and ended on the foot on Clint Dempsey, who scored for the second time in as many matches.
Freddy Adu, who had not played yet in this tournament, was asked how it felt to be back out and to play a vital role in the game winning goal.
"It was amazing." Adu said, "I haven’t been part of the team for over two years now and just the chance to be around the guys and around the national team, I was really thankful for the opportunity. Once you’re here, you gotta work hard and when you get your chance you’ve got to make a difference and reward your coaches’ faith in you."
Adu said he had been preparing himself for the moment his name was called.
"I’ve been putting in a lot of work. I decided to come in here, keep my head down and whenever my name is called to try and help the team. Today I was told to come in, bring energy and make a difference. Fortunately I was able to do that. "
After the game, Clint Dempsey gave the credit for his game winner to Landon Donovan.
"Landon is a top player he always gets his head and looks for a player if he can find pass. He put a perfect ball in and all I had to do was put my foot on it. So all credit to him, but most importantly we got the win and even though it wasn't our best game we were able to grind out the result."
The win avenges the US loss to Panama in group play, which was the first time in the history of this tournament that the US had lost a group game.
The USA now advances to the finals for the fourth straight Gold Cup. Assuming Mexico beats Honduras tonight, it will be the fifth time the two nations have met in the Gold Cup final.