Gold heist: Canada rally denied

A controversial offside call denied Canada a tying goal in its CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal, a 2-1 loss to the United States on Thursday.

Atiba Hutchinson put a shot past American keeper Kasey Keller in stoppage time, but Mexican referee Benito Archundia waved the goal off, Hutchinson was offside.

Replays showed the ball went off U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu, and that Canadian attackers appeared to be even with the last American defender, meaning the goal should have counted. Canadian players were visibly irate, and they vehemently argued to no avail with Archundia, who seconds later blew the final whistle.

Canadian players and substitutes complained bitterly after the match. At one point, former Canadian Soccer Association chief operating officer Kevan Pipe -- who is running the Chicago venue for CONCACAF -- stepped in front of Canadian manager Morgan Quarry as he harangued the officials. Pipe was fired by the CSA last November.

It's not the first time Canada has been at odds with Archundia or members of his staff. The referee called two late fouls against Canada in a World Cup qualifier with Honduras on Sept. 4, 2004. Archundia awarded Honduras a late penalty kick which led to the game-tying goal. Then a potential go-ahead goal by Canadian forward Olivier Occean was negated by a second foul and the game ended 1-1. Canadian defender Mark Watson disputed both calls at the time.

After Frankie Hejduk and Landon Donovan scored to give the U.S. 2-0 lead, the Americans nearly nearly gave their spot in the final away. Canada was not only able to score a goal, its first in seven games against the Americans, but probably deserved another.

Iain Hume put a ball over the crossbar from 25 yards in the 75th minute. He was back to bother goalkeeper Kasey Keller a minute later. Dribbling into the box, he turned defender Carlos Bocanegra around and got the ball on his left foot. He took a hard shot to the far corner of the net, and Keller had no chance.

That goal will be little consolation to the Maple Leafs, especially after they thought they tied the game in the final minute of stoppage time.

The Americans can't have been happy with the finish, either. This was the second straight game they gave up a late goal -- Panama scored in the 84th minute in the quarter-finals.

After struggling to finish several chances -- a recurring theme for the Americans lately -- Hejduk finally got the offence on track in the 39th minute.

Pablo Mastroeni collected the ball on the right side of the field after a set piece by DaMarcus Beasley. He passed across the field to Donovan, who tapped the ball back to into Hejduk's path at the top of the box.

Michael Bradley, the son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley, would have been in Hejduk's way, but the youngster dropped to the ground and Hejduk took a solid shot with his right foot. The ball hit the left post and caromed into the goal past a diving Paul Onstad.

Hejduk will miss the final after picking up his second yellow card in as many games. Bradley, also will sit out the final after getting a red card in the 89th minute for a reckless tackle.

The defending champions, who are unbeaten in the tournament, play Mexico or Guadeloupe on Sunday.

With 33 goals, Donovan moved within one of Eric Wynalda's U.S. career record. Kasey Keller played his 100th international game, matching Tony Meola's American mark for goalkeepers.

It was the 32-year-old Hejduk's first goal since June 11, 2000, against Mexico, and it sent him on a mad dash across the field. He slapped hands with coach Bob Bradley and the players on the bench, pumping his fists as the rests of his teammates mobbed him.

Seven minutes later, the Americans were celebrating again.

Onstad, who was starting because No. 1 goalie Greg Sutton is still feeling the effects of a concussion, tripped up Beasley on a breakaway in front of the goal. He was given a yellow card, and the referees awarded the Americans a penalty kick.

Donovan connected on a perfect shot, nestling the ball behind a diving Onstad. The team ran over to Beasley, who was still being attended to on the sideline.

Canada hasn't beaten the United States since 1985, a run of futility that stretched to 13 matches with Thursday night's loss.

I am throughly disgusted with the Referee Mr Benito Archundia actions
so for this (Pulls a RED CARD from his upper shirt pocket and holds it up
in front of Mr Archundia)

You are banished from all future soccer games the reasoning behind that is because your an IDIOT ...so please now GET off my pitch and get a real job you MORON!!.

KidMecca's Rating of anger: 9* out of 10