DOHA: Qatar earned accolades despite their 1-0 defeat against the United States in Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal on Thursday.
It was a physical, dramatic and hectic 1-0 win as Mexico await them in the final on Sunday after El Tri beat Canada 2-1 on a last-minute winner from Hector Herrera.
The Americans were outplayed thoroughly in the first half, outshot by 10, but an inspired Matt Turner kept his team in it with two brilliant saves in goal.
In the second half, the US battled back, and coach Gregg Berhalter got it right, making two substitutions that changed the game.
Gyasi Zardes came on for Daryl Dike in the 63rd minute, and then Nicholas Gioacchini came on in the 81st.
Those two combined for the winner just five minutes after Gioacchini came on, with the Caen striker recovering the ball, playing a little combo and then setting up Zardes for a fairly comfortable winning goal.
