US to Gold Cup Final

On Wednesday night the US National Soccer team outplayed a dogged Panamanian side to avenge their earlier loss and advance to the Gold Cup final against Mexico, the third time in a row that the two CONCACAF giants will meet for the final.

With Panama clearly adopting a circle-the-wagons strategy, it too a while for the US to break them down but it finally happened in the 77th minute when Landon Donovan and Freddy Adu together fed Clint Dempsey in front of the goal, who left-foot punched in the only score of the night.  It was enough, and now the United States advances to the final.

For the second match in a row, Bob Bradley has elected to use Landon Donovan off the bench instead of a starting role, and it seems to be working out.  For his part, Landon Donovan has characteristically expressed a 'whatever-is-best-for-the-team' meantality, accepting this new role for him.  This is why it is easy to respect this player so much.

Now comes Mexico, later tonight.  The 2009 5 - 0 thrasing at the hands of the Mexicans will surely be on the teams mind tonight, but lets hope not too much.