Clint Dempsey and DeAndre Yedlin were substituted in the second half, and right away their speed and creativity made a difference.
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U.S. captain Bradley struck early in the second half to cancel out Blas Perez’s opener for Panama as the Americans wrapped up their first phase campaign with a draw to finish top of Group A. However, the 1-1 score will be far less disconcerting than the performance, which improved after halftime but remains significantly below the team’s championship potential. Unlike the Gold Cup opener against Honduras, Zardes will not be asked to track back and defend in the 4-3-1-2. But make no mistake.
Before the tournament, there were questions about how Dempsey, 32, would respond to losing his captaincy.
“By comparison to 2013, ticket sales are running ahead for this year’s Gold Cup”, Hasseltine wrote.
Altidore, a forward for Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, has been nagged by a hamstring injury and did not play in a 1-1 United States draw with Panama on Monday. He redeemed himself partially, taking the ball forward on the US equalizer. He is proficient at maintaining possession, something the Americans have struggled to do.In the tournament now we need to produce results and get things done.
He barely saw the ball for almost the entire game, and when he did, he didn’t anything productive with it. When Johansson entered the game for Bedoya, Zardes moved down to the wing, where he didn’t do all that much better. Bedoya then sent a low cross in front of goal that Bradley directed past Penedo to make it 1-1. The Nantes talisman was active, creating the best US scoring chance in the first half.
Panama is awaiting the result of the Haiti versus Honduras match that kicks off at 7:00PM EST to know exactly what is needed against the United States.
The question remaining, to be answered in evening’s second match, was whether Panama could overturn the US to leapfrog Haiti into the guaranteed place.
Brooks was picked to start in the middle of the defense with Ventura Alvarado after the backline against Haiti looked out of sorts for periods of time. Twelve months after appearing in Brazil, Los Catrachos have bottomed out.
“The only way for younger players to mature, get better and get stronger is to grow into these games and have these experiences”, he said. Klinsmann’s decision to start them again against Panama, especially over the likes of Omar Gonzalez and the effective Brad Evans, represented a vote of confidence. In his first eight games, Klinsmann has managed his side to victory.
The goal here is to win the tournament, but of course since everything MUST be an argument these days unless Klinsmann finds a way for the U.S.to do it in style, there will be complaints. Both Honduras and Panama have forced two goals in the opening two games.
PAN: Perez (Tejada), 34th minute. Then Tejada turned and blew by the US defender anyway.
The usa pulled even on a nifty passing play with Alejandro Bedoya intercepting a pass in midfield. He earned a yellow card as well.
Brooks ended up having a terrible first-half.
For the first time, players were seeded and placed in an elimination bracket.
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Gordon will depart following the Galaxy’s U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal game against Real Salt Lake on Tuesday, July 14 and be unavailable for selection when the Galaxy face the San Jose Earthquakes at StubHub Center on Friday, July 17.
