Gyasi Zardes' international career has been harder to kill off than one of those horror movie heroes. No matter how many times The Next Big Striker comes around, ready to supplant him, the Columbus Crew forward keeps coming back to score goals for the United States.
Thursday's Gold Cup semifinal against Qatar was just the latest instance. On a night when the U.S. was largely outplayed by the reigning continental champions from Asia, Zardes was in the perfect place at the perfect time, redirecting Nicholas Gioacchini's low, centering feed in the 86th minute -- after earlier good work from another substitute, Eryk Williamson -- to give the Americans a 1-0 victory and a spot in Sunday's final.