The U.S. national team’s once-rocky road to next summer’s World Cup in Russian Federation has smoothed out considerably in the last five days, with Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Panama giving the Americans both added confidence and a hard-earned point, keeping them in the middle of the CONCACAF standings four games into the 10-match tournament.
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Clint Dempsey thanks Christian Pulisic for the assist on his 39th-minute goal in Panama City. But Panama were on equal terms four minutes later when the American defence failed to deal with a long throw-in, the ball bobbling to Gabriel Gomez, who fired home from close range.
The first forty minutes were largely forgettable for both sides, but the final five minutes before the half woke the game up quickly. It was a nice statement from the team in coach Bruce Arena’s first World Cup qualifier since succeeding Jurgen Klinsmann. “It’s just a battle”. “Is it right for referees to have to run 30 yards to go and look?” The hat trick from the Texan was a stunning end to a long journey back to football, but after playing 90 minutes it might be hard to repeat an effective performance.
“I thought in the second half we did a little bit better”. Check out Panama vs U.S. live streaming TV Channels, live score updates and team lineups on this page. That makes the USA big favorites for those matches and puts them in position to leap them both.
But American hopes of a precious away victory to follow last week’s 6-0 drubbing of Honduras were dashed after it conceded a soft equaliser through Gabriel Gomez on 43 minutes. “But if actually the two most important decisions in the match are made by somebody watching a TV screen … the most important person is the man you put behind the TV screen not the man on the field”. With zero points from the first two games, the American soccer team had four points from the next two.
“Cameron had a muscle strain and wasn’t able to get through it over the last couple days”, said Arena.
“I’ve been very encouraged by what I’ve seen over the last 10 days”, Arena said. “Our veteran leadership, with Michael Bradley, Tim Howard, Jozy [Altidore], Clint [Dempsey] – and I’m sure I’m leaving someone else out – is exceptional”.
US coach Bruce Arena made three changes to his starting lineup for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier at Panama, inserting defenders Tim Ream and Graham Zusi, and midfielder Jermaine Jones.
Mexico leads the final round of North and Central America and the Caribbean with 10 points, followed by Costa Rica with seven, Panama with five, the USA and Honduras with four each, and Trinidad and Tobago with three.
Omar Gonzalez (6) – It was a decent but unspectacular outing for the Pachuca man, who had less to do than his back line mates.
They looked the more likely to find a victor but US held on for a point, leaving them with just one victory from four qualifiers in the final round in CONCACAF.
“Going into it I knew it was going to be a physical game”, Pulisic said.
Panama tied it on Gomez’s 12th worldwide goal, the first against the U.S.in four games under Arena. I think he did well. He created our goal and in the second half he was part of some plays that may have created the second goal. It was a good lesson for him. It is something you can’t tell him about, he has got to experience it. Thankfully, they have the better squad and should have enough quality to earn a result, especially if their rejuvenation under Bruce Arena is any indication.
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“It was a good lesson for Christian tonight”, said Arena.
