United States edge Canada 2-1 to reach final

CHICAGO, June 22 (Reuters) The United States reached the final of the Gold Cup for the sixth time with a 2-1 semi-final victory over Canada.

The hosts will play the winner of yesterday's other semi between Mexico and Guadeloupe in the final of the tournament for nations of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

The United States were 2-0 up at the break but Canada pulled a goal back before having an injury-time equaliser controversially disallowed.

Canada had the best of the early exchanges and Dwayne De Rosario hit the post in the 32nd minute with a free-kick.

Seven minutes later, however, the United States took the lead, Landon Donovan setting up Frankie Hejduk whose superb swerving low drive from 20 metres went in off the post.

Donovan was yellow-carded in the 41st minute when the referee harshly ruled he had dived, but two minutes later the striker had doubled his team's lead from the penalty spot.

Clint Dempsey fed DaMarcus Beasley who burst into the penalty and was brought down by the outstretched arm of Canada keeper Pat Onstad. Donovan confidently converted the spot kick.

Donovan, who plays in Major League Soccer for LA Galaxy, missed a clear opportunity to make it 3-0 after the break when he completely mis-kicked when faced with an open goal.

US coach Bob Bradley suffered a blow when Hejduk, who has been in excellent form throughout the competition, was booked meaning he will be suspended for Sunday's final.

Just as US thoughts were starting to drift to the final, Canada struck back in the 76th minute when substitute Iain Hume cut in from the right and fired a left-foot shot past American keeper Kasey Keller.

Hume proved useful in defence, clearing a Dempsey header off the line as the United States looked to re-impose their authority, but there was another setback for Bradley when his son Michael was sent off in the 89th minute for a foul from behind on Julian de Guzman.

With the clock running down deep in injury time, Canada's Atiba Hutchinson had the ball in the back of the net but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Television replays cast serious doubt on the referee's decision.

REUTERS BJR PM0917