The USA trailed Honduras for nearly an hour but notched two goals with time running out for a 2-1 semifinal win Thursday in Giants Stadium to reach the Gold Cup final.
Defender Oguchi Onyewu struck with a diving header two minutes into stoppage time off a bending Landon Donovan free kick to notch the gamewinner and his first international goal.
Onyewu's strike came six minutes after John O'Brien shot low into the goal from six yards to tie the game.
"It was a good win for our players," said U.S. coach Bruce Arena. "They played exceptionally well in the second half."
Honduras had taken the lead in the 30th minute through Ivan Guerrero of the Chicago Fire, who beat oncoming U.S. keeper Kasey Keller from 18 yards after running on to a Milton Nunez through the middle. Nunez had intercepted a pass from Frankie Hejduk.
Arena was ejected from the game in the second half.
July 21 in East Rutherford, N.J.
USA 2 Honduras 1
Goals: O'Brien 86, Onyewu 92+; Guerrero 30.
USA – Keller, Onyewu, Pope (Hejduk, 15), Conrad, Armas, Mastroeni (Dempsey, 58), O'Brien, Donovan, Ralston, Wolff (Noonan, 63), Beasley.
Honduras — Coello (Morales, 46), Caballero, Vallecilo, Figueroa, Enriquez (Guifarro, 89), Garcia, Berrios, Turcios (Palacios, 75), Guerrero, Velazquez, Nunez.
Att.: tbd
Stats USA-HON
Shots 14-6
Saves 3-4
Corner Kicks 6-3
Fouls 16-12
Offside 1-5
Cards
USA – Pablo Mastroeni (yellow) 34th minute
HON – Danilo Turcios (yellow) 49.
HON – Mario Berrios (yellow) 58.
USA – Bruce Arena (ejected) 59.
HON – Oscar Garcia (yellow) 72.
Referee: Peter Prendergast (JAM)