By Dylan Butler

PHILADELPHIA - They already have played once and they'll go it at again in the semifinals.

The United States and Honduras will face off for a second time at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, this time in Chicago's Soldier Field on Thursday with the loser going home.

Both reached the final four after physical games decided on vigorously contested penalties at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night.

The Americans needed extra time to defeat Panama 2-1 to advance to the semifinals for a fifth consecutive time, while Honduras beat Canada 1-0 to get to the final four for the third time in its history.

"We're going to have to see how things work out," Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda said through a translator. "Our focus is to continue to prepare since each game is different."

Los Catrachos faced the United States in both previous semifinal appearances. They're not just looking to avenge a 2-0 group stage loss in front of a partisan crowd in Washington on July 8, but they also suffered a 2-1 defeat at Soldier Field in World Cup qualification last month.

"It's going to be another tough one," said United States midfielder Kyle Beckerman, whose 49th-minute goal equalized 1-1 against Panama. "This definitely took a lot out of us. I don't think many guys have played an overtime match in a while. We're going to really recover quick and get right back to preparing for what will be a real tough game and a team looking for revenge."

The United States needed an extra-time penalty kick by Kenny Cooper to finally solve a Panamanian squad in a match that saw 39 combined fouls and six cards.

U.S. defender Jimmy Conrad was bloodied and dazed on a first-half challenge in the attacking penalty area. He was taken to a local hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion. A United States spokesman said Conrad was "OK and responsive."

"We had certain ideas of what this game would be like," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "They're a physical team. They're a direct team."

And they were an upset team when Mexican referee Benito Archundia pointed to the spot after defender Roman Torres kicked Cooper in the stomach on a challenge in the box.

Several Panamanian players surrounded Archundia after the game, following him off the field. Archundia issued a second yellow (and red) to Felipe Baloy and a straight red to Luis Tejada for dissent during the heated post-match discussion.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game and obviously we don't like to lose a game like that," Panama coach Gary Stempel said. "It's a shame that two games today had to be decided by very, very dubious decisions, especially the U.S. penalty. I didn't see it."

The Canadians also were upset about a penalty decision in its loss to Honduras in the opening game of the doubleheader.

Salvadorian referee Joel Aguilar pointed to the spot after he said Canada captain Paul Staltieri pulled down Walter Martinez from behind while Martinez was attempting a bicycle kick in the box in the 36th minute.

"At the end of the day, I'm not in control of that," Canada interim coach Stephen Hart said. "I haven't seen it a second time, but from the bench it looked phantom to me."

Martinez buried the PK and the Canadians, who were unable to finish numerous scoring chances in the second half.

"If he's performing a bicycle kick, how is our man supposed to pull him?" Canada goalkeeper Greg Sutton said. "It didn't make much sense to call that. At this stage of the tournament, you can't have those calls being made by an official like that."

Canada was also bounced from the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup by a disputed decision by the referee as Atiba Hutchinson had a stoppage time goal voided in a 2-1 loss to the United States.

"I think the same thing happens over and over," Hutchinson said. "I thought it was a horrible call from the ref. If he looks at it himself he should be ashamed. That's all I can say."