USA vs PANAMA TONIGHT WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

azsouthendzone · June 8th, 2005, 12:40 PM

PANAMA CITY, Panama (June 8, 2005) - Earning victories on the road in World Cup qualifying is no easy task, as the USA's long history will attest. However, the U.S. Men's National Team has won two of their last road World Cup qualifiers and will be looking for three more points tonight against Panama, a team which is undefeated in six home qualifying matches on the road to Germany 2006 (a 2-0-4 record). The teams’ last meeting in Panama City was a water-logged affair, and all weather forecasts suggest similar conditions for this contest. To hear a podcast of U.S. assistant coach Glenn "Mooch" Myernick breaking down the USA's game plan heading into tonight's match, click here. Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. CT in Panama. Fans can follow the action live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics. Fans can also catch the game on taped delay at 11:30 p.m. ET on Telemundo and 1 a.m. ET on ESPN2. The U.S. is coming off a strong, 3-0 home win over Costa Rica on Saturday in Salt Lake City, a victory sparked by standout performances from midfielder Landon Donovan and goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

Stout · June 8th, 2005, 01:18 PM

I predict that we win this game, but in dogfight fashion. It's going to get ugly, it's going to get brutal, and we're going to have to grit it out. Panama is fighting for their WC lives, and even though we're in far better form than the last time we played here, they're going to be even more determined this time around. It's going to be a physical game. If they fall behind, look for it to get ugly as they foul more and more.

Lefty · June 8th, 2005, 09:15 PM

If you do not want to know who won, don't read below.

PANAMA CITY, Panama -- The United States cut through Panama's defense like the canal that divides the isthmus.

Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan and Brian McBride overwhelmed Panama with first-half goals, and the Americans won Wednesday night's qualifier 3-0 to move into commanding position to secure their fifth straight World Cup berth.

Bocanegra scored off Donovan's corner kick in the sixth minute, Donovan got his third goal in two games in the 20th and McBride took advantage of a defensive mistake in the 40th. Kasey Keller made the lead stand up with his second straight strong performance in goal, getting his 39th career shutout in 81 games.

"Getting the result like that is exceptional when nobody else has been able to do it," Arena said, noting that Panama rarely loses at home. "Obviously the first goal was big, the second goal is terrific, and Kasey Keller, once again ..."

The Americans (4-1) are second at the midpoint of the final round of the North and Central American region with 12 points, one behind Mexico (4-0-1), which beat visiting Trinidad and Tobago 2-0.

Costa Rica (2-2-1) beat Guatemala 3-2 (1-3-1). Trinidad and Tobago is 1-3-1. Panama (0-3-2) is virtually out of contention with two points.

The top three nations qualify for next year's tournament, and the No. 4 team meets Bahrain, Kuwait or Uzbekistan in a home-and-home playoff for another berth. The Americans have three home games left, including matchups with T&T and Panama, the two weakest teams in the group.

"We just need t continue to do that," McBride said. "Two wins from now, we'll be OK. Until you do that, you think about the next game."

It was a steamy 81 degrees with an 89 percent humidity at gametime, and a just-short-of-capacity crowd of about 23,000 filled Estadio Rommel Fernandez, a low structure with a track surrounding the field and poor lighting.

The fans, nearly all dressed in Panama red, honked horns, beat drums and banged inflatable Thunder Stix. They booed at the end of The Star-Spangled Banner, then booed as Panamanian players walked off the field at halftime.

It was just the fifth win for the United States in 17 qualifiers in Central America.

"The players showed a lot of heart, a lot of determination," DaMarcus Beasley said after the Americans scored on three of their first four opportunities.

Last year, the Americans needed Cobi Jones' goal during a downpour in second-half injury time for a 1-1 tie at Panama, but this time the rain held off. U.S. coach Bruce Arena once again started an offense-minded lineup, using Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and McBride up front.

Donovan could have had a Panama hat trick if not for the play of goalkeeper Donaldo Gonzalez. His early corner kick went over McBride to Bocanegra, whose header went off Gonzalez's hands, hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced in for his sixth international goal.

Keller came up with a nice save on Roberto Brown, Panama's leading scorer in qualifying. Donovan made it 2-0 with a glancing header from 10 yards, outjumping defender Felipe Baloy to get to Steve Ralston's cross.

Donovan's 22nd goal in 64 international appearances moved him past Bruce Murray for sole possession of fourth on the U.S. career scoring list behind Eric Wynalda (34), McBride (28) and Joe-Max Moore (24). Donovan also has a goal or assist in 12 of 13 qualifiers for next year's tournament.

Keller made two spectacular saves in the 26th minute, going to his right to block Brown in front of the goal, then batting away Baloy's follow shot. Two minutes later, Brown had Keller beat but couldn't get his head on a cross, and Jose Garces hit the post off a 25-yard shot in the 32nd minute.

On the third goal, Donovan's free kick was headed out by a defender. Frankie Hejduk sent the ball back in, and it bounced off Baloy to McBride, who kicked it in with his left foot.

Notes

Eddie Pope got a yellow card for a hard tackle in the 10th minute and is suspended for the Aug. 17 qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago at East Hartford, Conn.
There was brief delay in the 60th minute when a fan ran onto the field. Riot police took him off.

azsouthendzone · June 9th, 2005, 12:10 AM

That was a GREAT win. They dominated from start to finish. Keller is a freaking wall. That triple stop in the first half was unreal. The second goal by Donavan was incredible. The fact that they trapped them defensively then stole the ball and passed perfectly to the header weas unreal. US Soccer has never been so good. Great win.

Stout · June 9th, 2005, 10:41 AM

If everything goes in that should have, it would have been a 5-2 victory. Seeing as though that rarely happens, a 3-0 victory is about right. Panama showed some little bit of spunk, but we simply outclassed them.

What was with that idiotic ref, anyway? Most of the calls were all right, but when they foulded hard, instead of getting a few reds that they deserved, they got yellows. Instead of giving out fouls to the US, he was handing out yellows like they were candy. If we weren't playing T and T, I'd be concerned not having Pope or Hejduk.

Zeno · June 10th, 2005, 03:18 PM

I didn't get to watch the game...I was in a hotel in Washington state and they didn't have ESPN2. I saw the highlights though, a 3-0 win sure looks good.

As for losing Pope, that really hurts because he is playing pretty good right now. Hejduk...eh..he is the king of giveaways. Onyewu or Gibbs give us more than he would, as long as they are both healthy.

I plan to go to the US--Mexico match in Columbus in September, assuming I can get tickets. I've never been to a qualifier before, should be fun.

Stout · June 11th, 2005, 12:29 AM

Well, our next game is against Trinidad, so I'm not overly concerned that Pope and Hejduk will miss the game.