Mexican players celebrated their first goal. (Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports)

Midfielder Hector Herrera scored nine minutes into stoppage time to boost Mexico to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Canada and into the final of the Concacaf Gold Cup Thursday night.

The defending champions will meet the United States in Las Vegas Sunday night. The Americans edged Qatar earlier in the evening, 1-0.

Herrera scored off a pass from Rodolfo Pizarro from the top of the penalty area to snap a 1-1 draw in the semifinal match in Houston, Texas. It was Herrera’s ninth international goal.

The contest had 15 minutes of stoppage time due to substituions, injuries and an incident or two on the field.

Orbelin Pineda converted a penalty kick two minutues into first half added time to give El Tri a 1-0 edge, but Canada equalzied on Tajon Buchanan’s goal in the 57th minute.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.