Fulham team-mates Clint Dempsey and Carlos Salcido could be set to line-up on opposing sides this weekend in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final as the United States take on Mexico.
Dempsey scored the only goal of the States’ semi-final encounter against Panama whilst Mexico triumphed in their semi against Honduras.
Speaking after his Man of the Match display, Dempsey reflected on the goal that booked a place in the Final.
“It was a great ball from Freddy [Adu] to open up Landon [Donovan],” Dempsey explained. Once Landon gets in those positions, he normally finds a player. All I had to do was try to put myself in a position that he could find me. I felt far post was the way to go. He hit it hard and low, and all I had to do was put my foot on it. That’s why after the goal I tried to go and celebrate with him, because without that pass there was no goal.
"It was a frustrating match in the sense that it was real tight “We found it difficult trying to get the ball in between lines. They were a very organised team. That’s why they are in the semi-finals. I think we showed our quality in being able to grind out a result even when it wasn’t our best game, and now we find ourselves in the final."
Mexico expect that Salcido will be able to shake off a niggle in time for Saturday’s final, with the Fulham man having to be replaced in his side’s semi-final win.
"I have some pain in the heel," Salcido said. "I have an issue there since the last two games. It has something to do with the training surfaces being too hard. This field was also hard. It began to hurt a lot. They gave me a substance to reduce the pain prior to the game but it didn't work that well."