CHESTER, Pa. – Music and shouts of celebration blasted from the Panama locker room next door as U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann tried to put another positive spin on another loss.
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Panama’s goal keeper Luis Mejia is swarmed by teammates after the shoot out during the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup third place match between the USA and Panama.
Andres Guardado became the first player to score in three Gold Cup finals and Mexico defeated Jamaica 3-1 on Sunday, stretching their record trophy total to seven.
He made a diving stop to his right against U.S. captain Michael Bradley, then blocked DaMarcus Beasley’s final attempt to end the match.
The tournament has had its share of controversy, most notably a couple late penalty kick calls that allowed Mexico to prevail against Panama.
The Panamanian federation’s president later alleged the match was fixed, and players were seen arriving at PPL Park in suburban Philadelphia on Saturday wearing T-shirts that read, “Dignity isn’t bought”.
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.
With the pressure off, Jamaica can go for the jugular and they’ll be buoyed by their perfomances at the Copa America in Chile where they played Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The Mexican national team is looking to prove their worth being Gold Cup champions after facing scrutiny for reaching the final thanks to a few late and controversial calls that went their way.
“It’s obviously a disappointment”, Gulati said.
Reading’s interest in the game comes via winger Garath McCleary and centre-back Michael Hector, both of which are expected to continue in their starting berths in the tournament centrepiece.
Ramon Torres, Abidel Arroyo and Harold Cummings put theirs away for Panama, while Armando Cooper had his saved by Brad Guzan. It was the Americans’ first shootout since they beat Panama in the 2005 Gold Cup final.
Between the goal, two shots cleared off the line and several other Panama shots going just wide, the U.S. looked like they were about to get buried.
On Nurse’s goal, he faked out John Brooks, the young center back who had a rough tournament, to set up an open shot. The US beat Panama 1-0 in last year’s Gold Cup final.
The Americans brought strikers DeAndre Yedlin of Tottenham Hotspur and Clint Dempsey of Seattle, a former Fulham and Spurs standout, off the bench in the 60th minute and in the 70th they combined on the equalizer. Today’s Gold Cup Final 2015 between Mexico and Jamaica has a scheduled start time of 7.30 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the Fox Sports 1 network or online through free live stream via the link below.
“El Tricolores” were powered by the Gold Cup’s most productive attack and humbled a Jamaican side that had been the event’s top defenders, surrendering only three goals in five prior matches.
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“This team will grow”, Klinsmann insisted.
