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| USA takes care of Honduras 2-1, advances to Gold Cup final |
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21/JUL/2005 -The United States, which was losing 1-0 with four minutes left
on the clock, tied the game up in the 86th minute with thanks to score from
midfielder John O'Brien, who got the assist from star forward Landon Donovan.
With the game tied, the United States took advantage of Honduras' weakening
defense when Donovan set up teammate Oguchi Onyewu for the defining goal a in
the 92nd minute.
The home squad, which went without coach Bruce Arena for most of the second
half because of an expulsion, will face the winner of the Colombia-Panama semifinal
on Sunday.
The United States has played in all eight previous editions of the Gold Cup,
winning the tournament in 1991 and 2002 and finishing in second in 1993 and
1998.
Honduras played well in the first half and went ahead early in thanks to a
well-executed counter attack goal from Mario Ivan Guerrero in the 30th minute.
The Central American team is playing in its seventh Gold Cup, achieving its
best results in 1991, when it lost a penalty shootout in the final to the United
States.
Honduras put on a good show in its effort to reach the finals, but the team
was unable to contain Donovan, who was set on getting his squad to the final.
Although Honduras dominated the first half of play, it slowly came apart during
the second 45 minutes, almost giving goals to Patrick Noonan in the 75th minute
and to Donovan in the 83rd minute.
A 15th-minute injury to defender Eddie Pope for Arena to sub in Frank Hejduk,
a move that hampered the American defense and allowed Nuñez to beat goalkeeper
Kasey Keller in the 21st minute, although the goal was annulled for an offside
violation.
The United States looked energized after that play, but Nuñez sapped
their momentum after he set up Guerrero, who put one past Keller and gave Honduras
the 1-0 lead in the 30th minute.
Honduras fell back in the second half, and despite a valiant effort, ended
losing to the hometown favorite.
Miller Lite Man of the Match: Oguchi Onyewu (USA)
Lineups:
2 - United States: Kasey Keller; Steve Ralston, Jimmy Conrad, Oguchi Onyewu,
Eddie Pope (Frank Hejduk, 15th minute); Pablo Mastroeni (Clint Dempsey, 58th
minute), Chris Armas, John O'Brien; Damarcus Beasley, Josh Wolff (Patrick Noonan,
63rd minute) and Landon Donovan.
1 - Honduras: Victor Coello (Junior Morales, 45th minute); Samuel Caballero,
Maynor Figueroa, Mario Berrios, Oscar Garcia, Erick Vallecio; Asthor Henriquez,
Elvis Turcios (Wilson Palacios, 75th minute); Wilmer Velasquez, Milton and Mario
Ivan Guerrero.
Goals: 0-1. 30th minute: Mario Ivan Guerrero; 1-1. 86th minute: John O'Brien;
2-1. 92nd minute: Oguchi Onyewu.
Referee Peter Prendergaft issued yellow cards to Samuel Caballero (45th minute),
Elvis Turcios (49th minute), Mario Berrios (57th minute) and Oscar Garcia (72nd
minute) of Honduras and to Pablo Mastroeni (34th minute) of the United States.
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