21/6/2007 - 21:33(EST)

The U.S. is on to the final

Two first-half goals was all the United States needed as it posted a 2-1 victory over Canada in a semifinal game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup Thursday at Soldier Field. Frankie Hejduk’s goal in the 39th minute and a penalty kick tally in the 45th minute by Landon Donovan exemplified an impressive first half that saw the U.S. dominant on both ends of the field.

20/JUN/2007-- With the victory, the United States advances to the championship match on Sunday giving them the opportunity to defend its Gold Cup title.

In the opening minute, Donovan set the tone early for the U.S.

The attacker rocketed a shot off his powerful right foot that was stopped by diving Canadian goalkeeper Patrick Onstad to keep the game scoreless.

The United States continued to play at a breakneck pace as they attempted a couple of shots in the next 15 minutes, including one from Michael Bradley that was set up by Donovan.

With its aggressive play, the U.S. defense was issued two yellow cards in the span of eight minutes. Jonathan Bornstein collected his in the 20th minute while Carlos Bocanegra was issued one in the 28th minute that set up a Canadian corner kick.

Canada had its best scoring opportunity of the first half in the 32nd minute.

As Bocanegra was called for a defensive foul, Canada was awarded a free kick and Dwayne DeRosario took that opportunity for his countrymen.

The attacker’s shot avoided a wall of American defenders and managed to hit the right post but the ball ricocheted away from the U.S. goal ending a scoring chance.

After narrowly avoiding a possible setback, the U.S. kept the ball toward the Canadian side of the field for the remainder of the first half. In the 39th minute, Donovan set up Hejduk just outside the penalty arc and Hejduk’s missile hit the inner part of the left post and caromed past Onstad to give the United States a 1-0 advantage.

Five minutes later, midfielder DaMarcus Beasley had a breakaway opportunity and as he brought the ball into the Canadian penalty area, Onstad dove at Beasley and tripped his opponent.

The U.S. was awarded a penalty kick due to Onstad’s defensive foul.

Donovan squared up for the penalty kick and his shot easily beat Canada’s goalkeeper on his right side as Onstad anticipated the ball going in the opposite direction. With that score, the U.S. attacker nailed down his third goal of the Gold Cup in the 45th minute and gave his squad a two-goal cushion entering halftime. Donovan & Co.

were just as aggressive in the early going of the second half but even the sure-footed attacker had a problem connecting.

The U.S. had a 2-on-1 breakaway but Donovan missed a golden opportunity for the Americans as he stumbled and misplayed an opportunity at an open goal in the 50th minute.

Canada did not give up as it cut the United States lead in half in the 76th minute. Midfielder Iain Hume was able to shake off Bocanegra just outside the penalty box and he sent one with his left foot that blew past U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller just inside the left goal post to bring Canada within one.

The Canadians showed resolve and had the ball in the U.S. end for most of the second half and the intensity of the match did not dissipate either as a red card was issued to U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley in the 89th minute.

However, the game did end with a bit of controversy.

In extended time, it appeared that Atiba Hutchinson tied the game for Canada when his breakaway shot beat Keller to the right side of the goal. However, Hutchinson’s goal was disallowed as he was called offsides.

FINAL MATCH STATISTICS:

06.21.2007: Chicago, Ill. – Soldier Field Attendance/ Asistencia:

CANADA – USA 1:2 [0:2] USA: 2- Frankie Hejduk, 39’ (10 – Landon Donovan) USA: 10- Landon Donovan, 45’ (PK) CAN – 17 – Iain Hume 76’ (13 – Atiba Hutchinson).

CAN: 22- Patrick Onstad, 3- Ante Jazic, 5- Andrew Hainault, 6- Julian DeGuzman, 7- Paul Stalteri, 10- Ali Gerba (18- Issey Nakajima-Farran 80’), 11- Richard Hastings, 13- Atiba Hutchinson, 14- Dwayne DeRosario, 15- Patrice Bernier, 16- Martin Nash (17 - Iain Hume 63’).

DNP / No jugaron: 2-Adam Braz, 8-Kevin Harmse, 19-Antonio Ribeiro, 20- Chris Pozniak, 23- Robert Giacomi.

TD: Stephen.

Hart.

USA: 18- Kasey Keller, 2- Frankie Hejduk, 3- Carlos Bocanegra, 4- Pablo Mastroeni (19 - Ricardo Clark 89’), 6-Michael Bradley, 7- DaMarcus Beasley, 8-Clint Dempsey (20 - Taylor Twellman 87’), 9- Ed Johnson (5 - Benny Feilhaber 80’), 10- Landon Donovan, 13- Jonathan Bornstein, 22- Oguchi Onyewu.

DNP / No jugaron: 1-Tim Howard, 12- Jay DeMerit, 15- Frank Simek, 21-Justin Mapp.

TD: Bob Bradley.

Millar Lite Player of the Match: USA – 10 – Landon Donovan.

Terra/Concacaf