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U.S. Wins Gold Cup Semifinal Over Panama Thanks To… Freddy Adu?

The U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Panama Wednesday night 1-0 on a Clint Dempsey goal set up by Landon Donovan and unlikely hero Freddy Adu. The semifinal win places the U.S. in Saturday’s CONCACAF Gold Cup Final against Mexico.

Adu, whose last national team appearance came two years ago in the 2009 Gold Cup, was a late substitution to an odd U.S. lineup that didn’t bring superstar Landon Donovan to the pitch until halfway through the match. Replacing teen phenom Juan Agudelo, Adu quickly made an impact and set up Donovan’s between-the-defender’s-legs assist to Dempsey:

Or, if you prefer Univision’s Spanish broadcast (and really, who doesn’t?):

It was Dempsey’s 5th Gold Cup goal and 22nd overall in international competition for the United States.

The match benefited greatly from Donovan and Adu’s entrance after an opening half of uninspired, slow play from both sides.

“Landon’s a top player, he put a perfect ball in, all I had to do was put my foot on it,” explained Dempsey after the match.