Panama was distraught at some poor calls in its 2-1 semifinal loss to Mexico.
Advertisement
The Panamanian federation’s president later alleged the game was fixed and players were seen arriving at PPL Park on Saturday wearing T-shirts that read “Dignity isn’t bought”. “We just didn’t bring it”.
The 34th-ranked Americans, who had played in five straight Gold Cup finals and were the defending champion, will face the loser of Wednesday’s second semifinal in the third-place game.
As major news stations and publications began to try and comprehend the defeat by Jamaica – the first time in the history of the Gold Cup that the US has been defeated by someone other than Mexico – coach Jurgen Klinsmann is facing calls for his departure as USMNT coach. “Everybody knows how we are”, Barnes said following the victory.
Aron Johannsson, Clint Dempsey converted their shots for the USA while Fabian Johnson drilled his over the crossbar and Michael Bradley had his attempt stopped by Mejia. This year was the first time in six tournaments the Americans failed to reach the Gold Cup final stretching back 12 years. Such was the slow and at times care-free nature with which some United States players went about their business.
Panama – forced to include several regulars in a lineup tattered by injuries and suspensions – started to ask some questions as the match hit the half-hour mark. But it dominated play against a sluggish U.S. team, with 13 shots on goal to the Americans’ two.
“In the end, it wasn’t really an option”, Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez said about a boycott.
The second half ended with the teams still tied at 1-1 so the game headed to extra time.
Despite the U.S.’ apathetic first half performance, Klinsmann didn’t make any changes at halftime.
Klinsmann chose to experiment with his starting lineup for the low-risk affair, with Clint Dempsey, DeAndre Yedlin and Kyle Beckerman among those not in the starting lineup.
Nurse collected the ball on the right side of Guzan’s box and seemingly found it easy to ghost past Ream and John Brooks, cutting in to fire home a simple finish.
The opening quarter produced little in the way of excitement and it was not until after the drinks break that the contest burst into life, as Panama twice came close to snatching the lead shortly before half-time. Yedlin may be turning the corner by adding better decision-making to his remarkable athleticism, and you’d think Klinsmann would have to consider him as a starter. He played great in this tournament, is a leader and should only get better since he plays in Europe.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s path to the championship game is riddled with controversy regarding their semifinals win against Panama.
There was no shortage of drama in the ensuing penalty shootout though, with Meija denying Bradley and Beasley to seal a deserved win for his side.
– Cummings scores for Panama.
In the 80 minute, Brad Guzan came up huge once more diving to his right to stop a Rolando Blackburn header. It also seems highly unlikely that Panama – seething due to the nature of their elimination against Mexico – is particularly excited about playing given that they were moments away from a shot at an unlikely trophy.
Advertisement
Even more damning for Klinsmann and the U.S.is that Panama wasn’t even at full strength.
