DALLAS, Texas: The United States men’s national team advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final by beating Honduras 3-1 yesterday behind two goals from Landon Donovan.
Donovan scored in the 27th and 53rd minutes and assisted on the first goal of the contest for the Americans who have now won a national team record 10 matches in a row.
The USA will attempt to clinch its first title since 2007 in the biennial North American regional tournament on Sunday when they face the winner of the other semi-final between Mexico and Panama.
Donovan, who had three points in Sunday’s quarter-final victory, assisted on the opening goal of the contest as he slipped a pass over to Johnson who raced in and beat Honduras goalkeeper Donis Escober at Cowboys Stadium.
Donovan scored halfway through the first half to make it 2-0, bringing a ball down off his chest inside the penalty area and slotting it home. Alejandro Bedoya drew the assist as he cut in front of a Honduran defender before chipping the ball to Donovan.
Nery Medina scored as Honduras pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute.
A free kick from the right wing travelled into the middle of the box where Medina headed it past Rimando.
However, the US answered back just a minute later as Bedoya and Donovan joined forces again to restore the their two-goal lead.
Bedoya floated a cross through the front of goal for Donovan to finish off with a nifty tap in.
Suarez should repay fans’ faith: Rodgers
MELBOURNE: Manager Brendan Rodgers has urged want-away striker Luis Suarez to repay the faith placed in him by supporters after Liverpool’s emotional 2-0 win on their pre-season tour in Australia.
Suarez is a £40m ($61m) transfer target of Arsenal and has made it clear he is keen to move to a team playing Champions League football.
Rodgers, who was overcome by the emotional welcome Australia’s massed Liverpool fans gave his team, said Suarez would have been left with an indelible memory of how much support he continues to receive from the club.
Questioned by reporters on Suarez’s future, Rodgers said: “There’s nothing new to report. He’s very much a Liverpool player and over the course of the next couple of weeks we’ve got to get him up to speed.
“The support he has received from the supporters and the people of the city of Liverpool has been unrivalled. In this period of time he’s missed a lot of games for the club through various reasons,” he added.
“The people have stood by him, like a son and really looked after him.” REUTERS
