U.S. exacts revenge in Gold Cup semi

Times wires
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

HOUSTON — Clint Dempsey struck again, and the United States reached 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.

Saturday, the Americans meet the winner of Wednesday's late game between Honduras and Mexico. The Gold Cup champion earns a berth in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

The United States has shut out its past three opponents since losing 2-1 to Panama on June 11 in Tampa. Before the upset, it had never lost to Panama or in the group stage of the championship of the Central and North American and Caribbean region.

"I think we showed our quality in being able to grind out a result," said Dempsey, who also scored in Sunday's 2-0 quarterfinal win over Jamaica, "even though it wasn't our best game."

Freddy Adu made a long-awaited return to American soccer in the second half. He set up the winning play with a long, slanting pass to Donovan.

Donovan was benched at the start for the second straight game and entered to start the second half. He tracked down Adu's cross and threaded a pinpoint pass through the defense to Dempsey, who slid as he redirected the ball into the 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."

Adu, the onetime teen phenom who turned 22 last month, drew cheers when he trotted onto the field in the 66th minute. Adu was playing in Turkey when he got the call to join the roster.

Adu, who last played for the national team in 2009, struggled early in training camp for the tournament, but coach Bob Bradley said he steadily regained his form.

"From the start of this camp, Freddy's made progress," Bradley said. "The opportunity (Wednesday) was earned on his part. You could see him getting sharper, his confidence coming back."

No matter who the United States faces Saturday, it will be without Jozy Altidore. Earlier Wednesday, the forward, who scored two goals in the tournament, was ruled out for the rest of it with a strained hamstring sustained against Jamaica.

Under-17 World Cup: Abbosbek Makhstaliev scored the winner on a penalty kick in the 54th minute as Uzbekistan beat the United States, featuring Pinellas Park's Tarik Salk, 2-1 in a group game in Torreon, Mexico.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/us-exacts-revenge-in-gold-cup-semi/1176872

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