HOUSTON, Jul 17 (SW) - Mexico were sent crashing out of the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday after a demoralizing 2-1 loss to Colombia in Mexico-friendly Houston while the USA kept on course for their third Gold Cup triumph with a win on Saturday.

Mexico 1-2 Colombia

Playing in front of a pro-Mexico crowd at Houston's Reliant Stadium, it was tournament invitees Colombia who jumped out in front in the 58th minute when Jaime Castrillón headed home a Jairo Patiño cross from the right. It was more than deserved for the Colombians who had two goals disallowed in the first half.

The Mexicans, playing without suspended striker Jared Borgetti, did not waste time getting an equalizer, however, as Gonzalo Pineda made it 1-1 on 64 minutes. After Colombia full-back José de la Cuesta deflected the ball, Pineda fired in low from 20 yards out just inside the post.

Mexico's resiliency would not be enough on this night when Deportivo Cali's Abel Aguilar scored with a quarter-hour to play when he found Mexican goalkeeper Moisés Múñoz off his line, beating him with a nearly 40-yard chip shot for 2-1.

South Africa 1-1 AET (3-5 pk) Panama

Colombia will now face Panama in the final after they defeated South Africa 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw after extra time on Sunday in Houston.

After a scoreless first half, Panama took the advantage just a couple of minutes into the second term, Jorge Dely Váldes converting a pass by Luís Tejada from close range to make it 1-0.

Just 20 minutes later, South Africa found themselves level when Lungisani Ndlela managed to run right over Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo en route to scoring the leveler.

After 30 minutes of scoreless extra time, the teams went to penalties. The first five takers all converted and with Panama ahead 3-2, South Africa's Ricardo Katza had his shot saved by Penedo.

Alberto Blanco and Lucky Lekgwathi made it 4-3 before Gabriel Gómez scored the winner to send Panama through to the semi-finals on Thursday.

United States 3-1 Jamaica

The United States, a day before rival Mexico's debacle, turned in their most impressive outing of the tournament thus far with a comprehensive win over the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica at Gillette Stadium just outside of Boston.

PSV Eindhoven winger DaMarcus Beasley led the way for the Stars & Stripes with a two-goal performance and helped open the scoring just after the quarter-hour with a booming shot from just over 15 yards that was directed into the net by Josh Wolff for a 1-0 lead.

Borussia Mönchengladbach goalkepeer Kasey Keller kept the USA in front when saved an Andy Williams penalty a minute after the opening goal and it was big when Beasley scored four minutes before half-time to make it 2-0. It was an easy goal made possible by a precision pass from midfielder Landon Donovan and Jamaica goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts had no chance.

The Americans were reduced to ten men in the 58th minute when Ben Olsen was sent off after he brought down Williams who was charging toward the USA goal, but things were back to even no more than ten minutes after when Jamaica's Jermaine Taylor got a red card for a hard foul on Beasley.

Beasley made it 3-0 on a tap-in goal in the 83rd minute and Jamaica got a consolation tally from Ricard Fuller two minutes from time.

Honduras 3-2 Costa Rica

Prior to the USA's victory at Gillette Stadium, Honduras advanced to the semi-finals with an upset win over Costa Rica in Foxboro thanks to a three-goal flurry within the first half-hour of the match.

Wilmer Velásquez opened the scoring on five minutes, dispossessing Costa Rica defender Michel Umana in his own penalty area and firing a bullet past the goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.

Their lead was doubled in the 26th minute after some poor ball-handling in the rearguard of Costa Rica lead to an Elvis Turcios goal. Víctor Cordero was guilty of a weak backpass and had the ball intercepted by Velásquez, who set up the strike by Cordero.

It was 3-0 just a few minutes later when Milton Núñez was all alone to score from spot on, giving Honduras a huge cushion.

Costa Rica fought back to get a goal in the 39th minute when Cristián Bolanos headed home a perfect cross from Carlos Rojas to make it 3-1 and they got within a goal ten minutes from the end when Bryan Ruíz beat Víctor Coello in goal, but they got no closer and Honduras advanced to face the United States.

2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup Semi-Finals

Thursday, July 21
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Honduras vs. United States, 18:00 EDT (00:00 CET, Friday)
Colombia vs. Panama, 21:00 EDT (03:00 CET, Friday)

Final - Sunday, July 24 (Giants Stadium - 15:00 EDT, 21:00 CET)