US advances to Gold Cup final

Associated Press

HOUSTON

Clint Dempsey struck again, and the United States is in the Gold Cup final for the fourth straight time.

Dempsey scored in the 77th minute off an assist from Landon Donovan, and the Americans earned a 1-0 victory over Panama in the semifinals Wednesday night, avenging a stunning loss in group play.

The U.S. awaits the winner of the later Honduras-Mexico semifinal for the championship match on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

The United States has shut out its last three opponents since the 2-1 loss to Panama on June 11. The U.S. had never lost in the group stage of the tournament, or to Panama in international play until the shocking defeat.

Dempsey, who also scored in the Americans’ 2-0 win over Jamaica in the quarterfinals, said the team proved its resolve in the hard-fought rematch with Panama.

“I think we showed our quality in being able to grind out a result,” Dempsey said, “even though it wasn’t our best game.”

Freddy Adu made a long-awaited return to American soccer in the second half, and set up the winning play with a long, slanting pass to Donovan, who played in his 27th consecutive Gold Cup match to extend his own record.

Donovan was benched at the start for the second straight game, and joined the action in the second half. He tracked down Adu’s cross, then threaded a pinpoint pass through the Panama defense to Dempsey, who slid as he redirected the ball into the low corner of the net.

“It was a great ball from Freddy to open up Landon,” Dempsey said. “All I had to do was put my foot on it.”

Panama lost to the Americans in the knockout stage for the fourth straight time.

“It was a very intense game, very few chances for both teams,” Panama coach Julio Dely Valdes said.