US meets Mexico in Gold Cup final again
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Shanghai Daily, June 24, 2011
Extra-time goals from Aldo de Nigris and Javier Hernandez gave Mexico a 2-0 win over Honduras in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, earning it a place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against the United States.
In front of a loud and overwhelmingly Mexican crowd of more than 70,000, 'El Tri' was unable to put away its chances in the regulation 90 minutes but made amends during extra-time.
De Nigris produced a superb header to put Mexico ahead in the third minute of extra-time, rising to meet a corner from Pablo Barrera.
Manchester United forward Hernandez then pounced from close range after another de Nigris header from a corner was pushed out by Honduras keeper Noel Valladares.
The goal was the seventh in five games in the tournament for Hernandez, who is also known as "Chicharito".
Honduras, which went close to winning the game in the latter stages of regulation, had Roger Espinoza sent off for a second yellow card with five minutes of extra-time remaining.
Earlier, a 76th-minute goal from Clint Dempsey put the US into the final with a 1-0 victory over Panama.
Panama, which had beaten Bob Bradley's side 2-1 in the group stage, rarely threatened the US but for all their possession the Americans created few chances.
The breakthrough came 14 minutes from the end when substitutes Freddy Adu and Landon Donovan combined superbly to set up Fulham striker Dempsey.
Tomorrow's clash at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, will be the third straight Gold Cup final featuring the US and Mexico.
