U.S. Will Face Mexico in Final on Saturday, June 25 at a Sold-Out Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Live at 6 p.m. PT on FOX Soccer and Univision
The U.S. Men’s National Team advanced to an unprecedented fourth straight CONCACAF Gold Cup final in a 1-0 victory against Panama at Reliant Stadium. The U.S. will face Mexico for the third straight time in the final after the USA’s archrival defeated Honduras in the second semifinal.
In a defensive match against Panama that didn’t see many chances for either side, Clint Dempsey scored his third goal of the 2011 Gold Cup in the 76th minute after a great service from Landon Donovan set him up for a sliding finish from close range at the left post.
Mexico’s grueling 2-0 win over Honduras, played in Houston on the same day as the US team against Panama, extra time win didn’t go as smoothly as they would’ve liked, after cruising through the group stage.
Los Catrachos survived an early onslaught then proceeded to match, and at times outplayed, El Tri over the course of 90 minutes before José Manuel de la Torre’s men broke through in the first half of overtime.
The game-winning goal for United States came after the second-half substitute Freddy Adu hit a perfectly placed long ball to Donovan who was making a run down the right flank. Donovan collected the ball near the right corner of the penalty area, dribbled towards the goal and hitting a low laser through four Panamanian defenders to Dempsey who directed the ball into the net with his left foot from two yards out.
The 2011 Gold Cup final will take place on Saturday, June 25 at a sold-out Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Kickoff for the match is set for 6 p.m. and the match can be seen live on FOX Soccer and Univision. FOX Soccer will also have a 30-minute pre-game show beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The U.S. and Mexico shard the spoils during the past two Gold Cup finals, with the U.S. taking the 2007 final 2-1 while Mexico pulled away late in 2009 to defeat an inexperienced U.S. squad for a 5-0 victory. The rematch from 2009’s Gold Cup final will have some added incentive on the line. Besides fighting for pride, Mexico and the US will seek a berth into the 2013 Confederations Cup.
“It’ll be a special game between what I think are the two best teams in this Gold Cup,” said defender Rafa Márquez.