Andres Guardado scored two penalties to lead Mexico to a 2-1 extra-time victory over 10-man Panama in a bad-tempered match in Atlanta and set up a Gold Cup final showdown with Jamaica.
Panama overcame the first-half dismissal of Luis Tejada to take the lead in the 57th minute through Roman Torres, who tucked home Eric Davis' cross from close range after the Mexico defence failed to adequately clear a corner.
Panama were on the cusp of reaching their third Gold Cup final until Torres was harshly adjudged to have handled in the area in the 89th minute and Guardado stepped up to convert his first penalty, some 10 minutes after the 90-minute mark as Panama's players disputed referee Mark Geiger's call, as they had done with Tejada's dismissal.
Both sets of players confronted one another on the sidelines and fans threw debris on to the pitch in protest.
Extra-time ensued at the Georgia Dome and, after a goalless first period, PSV Eindhoven winger Guardado slotted his second spot kick of the match in the first minute of the second period, after Panama defender Harold Cummings felled Javier Orozco, to send Mexico into Sunday's final in Philadelphia.
Match officials had to be escorted from the pitch by security after the final whistle as Panama players confronted them.
Afterwards the Panamanian Football Federation issued a press release which criticised the quality of refereeing at the tournament, which is being co-hosted the United States and Canada, describing it as "insulting" and "embarrassing".
The FEPAFUT also called for the complete removal of CONCACAF's referees' committee, while Panama players posed with a banner that read "CONCACAF thieves. Corrupt, corrupt, corrupt" after the game.
CONCACAF has not yet released a comment in response.
Nine-time champions Mexico will face Jamaica at Lincoln Financial Field after the Reggae Boyz claimed a major upset with a 2-1 win over defending champions the United States to reach their first-ever Gold Cup final.
Jamaica took a shock lead on the half-hour mark as striker Darren Mattocks flicked on from Kemar Lawrence's long throw-in, first beating goalkeeper Brad Guzan with his effort, which then struck the inside of the post before bobbling over the line.
The opener seemed to knock the co-hosts for six and it took just five minutes for Giles Barnes to send his perfect free-kick on the edge of the penalty box over the defensive wall and past a diving Guzan to make it 2-0 to Winfried Schafer's side.
The Unites States came out all guns blazing in the second half and in the 48th minute Aron Johannsson brought a save out of Ryan Thompson but the keeper fumbled the ball out to Michael Bradley, who made no mistake as he pulled one back from close range.
Clint Dempsey had a near miss close to the hour mark and John Brooks' header almost got past Thompson 10 minutes later, but Jamaica held on to reach their first-ever final.
Source: PA
