CHICAGO — Canada thought it was a goal. The Americans said it was offside.
Fortunately for the Americans, the linesman and the referee agreed with them.
Canada had a goal in the final minute of stoppage time waved off Thursday night, preserving the Americans' 2-1 victory and their spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final. Frankie Hejduk scored his first goal in almost seven years, and Landon Donovan converted yet another penalty kick for the winner.
"I thought he was offsides. But it doesn't matter," American goalkeeper Kasey Keller said. "The linesman made the call, so it's offsides."
But the wacky ending tainted what should have been a big victory for the Americans, who are trying to win their fourth Gold Cup title and second in a row. Keller played in his 100th international game, matching Tony Meola's American mark for goalkeepers. With 33 career goals, Donovan moved within one of Eric Wynalda's U.S. career record.
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The United States will play Mexico in Sunday's final. They will be without Hejduk and Michael Bradley, though. Hejduk picked up his second yellow card in as many games while Bradley, the son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley, was given a red card in the 89th minute for a reckless tackle.
"I think these young guys are realizing that we need to be up for every game," Hejduk said. "We've made it a little hard on ourselves by giving up late goals, but I think those guys are realizing how hard we need to play."
After Iain Hume scored in the 76th minute, the Canadians put even more pressure on Keller. In the final minute of stoppage time, Atiba Hutchinson got a shot past him, but Mexican referee Benito Archundia waved the goal off, saying the Canadian 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.
"Their player headed the ball down into the box and our player kicked it in," Canada coach Stephen Hart said. "If one of their players played the ball back, it's a back pass and it cannot be offsides."
Onyewu admitted heading the ball, but said he still thought Hutchinson was offside.
"I don't think it matters what I thought," he said. "The call was offsides."
Canadian players vehemently argued to no avail with Archundia, who seconds later blew the final whistle.
The Americans are unbeaten in 13 matches against the Canadians.
"We did things to put ourselves in that position, whether it was a bad call or not," Canadian goalie Patrick Onstad said. "We dug ourselves a hole."
The Americans have Hejduk and Donovan to thank for that.
On the opening goal, former Tucson Amigo Pablo Mastroeni collected the ball on the right side of the field after a set piece. He passed to Donovan, who tapped the ball into Hejduk's path at the top of the box.
Michael 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.
After Onstad tripped up DaMarcus Beasley on a breakaway in front of the goal, the referee awarded a penalty kick. Donovan then fired straight down the middle as Onstad dived to his left.
USA 2
Canada 1
