[MILK CUP] Adrian Ruelas of Mexican club Santos Laguna scored two goals and led the USA to a 3-2 win over Denmark that sent it into Friday's final of the Milk Cup's Elite section (under-20 national teams).

Ruelas pulled the Americans even at 1-1 in the first half and scored the winner with one minute to play to give them the win they needed to move into the final.

Denmark, which had minutes earlier evened the score at 2-2 on an own goal after Fuad Ibrahim of Toronto FC, would have advanced to the final with a tie.

The USA, which opened with a 1-0 win over China, meets host Northern Ireland in the final at the Showgrounds in Ballymena (kickoff, 1 p.m. ET).

The USA starting lineup:
Samir Badr (FC Porto, Portugal)
Zarek Valentin (Univ. of Akron)
Conor Shanosky (George Mason Univ.)
Gale Agbossoumonde (Braga, Portugal)
Bryan De La Fuente (Chivas USA Academy)
Ernest Nungaray (Monarcas Morelia, Mexico)
Dillon Powers (Univ. of Notre Dame)
Ethan White (Univ. of Maryland)
Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls)
Omar Salgado (MLS)
Adrian Ruelas (Santos Laguna, Mexico)
Subs:
Fuad Ibrahim (Toronto FC)
Perry Kitchen (Univ. of Akron)
Alex Molano (Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia)
Greg Garza (Estoril, Portugal)