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.