Another United States-Mexico final was far from an inevitability this time around, but the two Concacaf giants will meet at Giants Stadium in New York on Sunday to decide the Gold Cup. The cast of characters on both sides might be different from in recent clashes, but U.S. fans have every reason to feel confident about this group of players.

It wasn't always pretty for the U.S. in its 2-0 semifinal victory over Honduras. For much of the first half, the U.S. lacked ideas offensively, mainly because of some weak distribution from the two central midfielders. But once players like Robbie Rogers and Stuart Holden began receiving the ball in dangerous positions, the opportunities started coming, one after another.

Rogers even took matters into his own hands on one occasion, intercepting an errant pass and going around a Honduras defender with a brilliant first touch, before firing a rocket that forced the goalkeeper to make a great save. That was my favorite of flurry of chances late in the half that culminated with Clarence Goodson's opening goal.

The U.S. continued to control the match early in the second half. Davy Arnaud, who struggled in the first 45 minutes but picked things up after the break, provided a genius pass to Rogers, who was taken down in the box and should have earned a penalty.

Arnaud's inclusion in the starting lineup the past two games, at the expense of Santino Quaranta or Kenny Cooper, is the one questionable move coach Bob Bradley has made in the tournament, but the Kansas City Wizards standout did enough to maintain his place alongside Brian Ching, who was absolutely fantastic on Thursday.

Jay Heaps has certainly justified his selection at right back, nearly scoring a goal against Honduras from a corner kick. Then again, just about every American player had a good scoring opportunity off a set piece on Thursday night. This U.S. team has become lethal in that department.

Heaps also played his part in a competent defensive performance by the Americans. In addition to scoring a goal, Goodson formed a solid parternship in the middle with Chad Marshall, containing a potentially dangerous Honduras side. They were helped by Logan Pause and Kyle Beckerman, who were both extremely active.

The good news for U.S defenders is that when they do falter, goalkeeper Troy Perkins has proven he can make the big saves, as he did late in the game by denying Carlos Costly from inside the area. Perkins came up big in the only other Honduras chance the entire match, tipping a Marvin Chavez shot onto the crossbar in the first half.

However, the American team is not perfect by any stretch. It lacks creativity in the middle of the park, as Holden, the only player with any kind of playmaking skills, spends the majority of the time on the right wing. And Ching has never been the type of striker to create much on his own. But the U.S. is solid enough in every other part of the field, and has proven itself resourceful when it comes to scoring goals. The emergence of Cooper the past two games and the exclusion of Quaranta from the first team gives the squad some semblance of depth.

The makeshift group will likely need to put forth its best performance of the tournament on Sunday, but it is facing a Mexico team that typically brings out the best in American players.

ESPN360.com

Just a reminder that this weekend sees a fantastic slate of games that you can watch for free on ESPN360.com as follows:

Saturday:

• MLS: Chicago vs. Seattle, 3 p.m. ET

• MLS: L.A. Galaxy vs. Kansas City, 9 p.m. ET

Sunday:

• Wembley Cup: Barcelona vs. Al Ahly, 8 a.m. ET

• Wembley Cup: Spurs vs. Celtic, 10:55 a.m. ET

• Amsterdam Tournament: Sunderland vs. Atletico, 1 p.m. ET

• Amsterdam Tournament: Ajax vs. Benfica, 3:15 p.m. ET

• World Football Challenge: AC Milan vs. Inter, 5 p.m. ET

• World Football Challenge: Chelsea vs. Club America, 7 p.m. ET