For a place in the Final of the Gold Cup, yes a game in San Diego that might just be a Home Game for the US, not sure there are too many Panamanians there! This is not the top team the US could have put out, but it is the team that has gotten them here. A young team, many out of MLS is set to get to the final after a win, scant years ago the same was expected to get this team to the World Cup, here’s hoping history does not repeat itself. What a change since I got involved in the game in 1982, we had not made the World Cup in decades, were losing on a regular basis to the minnows, we were one of the minnows in the Confederation. Now of late we are without doubt the team to beat, it does not however ally my concern every game.
Cowell dents the post at :22 for the USA, not a bad start. Sands draws a foul as Panama gets in on offense and it goes the other way. Ferreira takes a lead ball sends it in for Djordie, a bit behind him, the 2 are second generation pros from the domestic league in the USA. Sands loses it in the center circle, the long ball leads to a US throw in. Vasquez finds Cowell in the area, it rides high and the GK grabs it from him. Busio goes high to nod a ball out in his defensive third. Too long for Panama this has been a fast paced game, Panama does have a lot of team speed. Diaz through some traffic, gets Turner to the ground, he is able to fight it off. Jesus to Buiso, the return pass is taken away in the area. Barcenas loses the air battle as the US heads a high cross out of play. Panama is now seeing more of the ball, doing less with it but more time on it. Djordie, with a great play off a ball to his chest. DFK from 25 yards Busio and Djordie over the ball, Busio will take it. Right to Escobar who clears it out about 50 yards. It comes right back in over the top, the GK grabs the ball, well too high to get to the US target. 22’ a crossed ball hit by Fijardo just high as he did not time it quite right. Panama has it in the area it is cleared, flicked on to Vazquez by Jesus and he cannot get ahold of it. Holden, singing the praises of Sands of NYCFC. Long ball sent in headed out by Long, first corner for Panama. Dijordie defends the corner, it goes back to the center circle, driven in for a great effort by Barcenes. First time, but offside negates the goal.. now 30’ hydration break. Panama, with 62% possession, but so overrated of a stat. Trying to use their speed, Panama keeps sending in balls over the top, with no success. A ball gets though at 35” but Turner is first to it. Many passes by the US, but each comes back, Valdez plays it in the area off his heel and it goes the other way. Reynolds, out of position can’t get to the header as it drops to the feet of the attacker who lays I off to another who is unable to handle it. Panama with a break, Robinson stands the player up, they recover and Panama comes back at them. Turner way off his line does not get all of the ball and is on his back, it is cleared to the top of the area and sent in but way wide. Under pressure by Barcenes, Jones drives one into the crowd.
Half adjustments, USA get off more shots, get another player back, Panama enough with the high balls try another way.
Long goes down in the area is clutching his knee as he was pushed by Fajardo into Turner, his hand went to the knee of Long. Morris who has had 2 surgeries on his knee looks concerned as Long had torn his achillies a short while ago. Miazga also a Red Bull product for defense as is Long now going over photos but Long looks to return, yet is being held off the field. Cowell should have shot as he gets it from outside the area, cuts it back in the air to Vasquez, gets it high and can’t get it on goal, right back and a ball headed down well in the area is deflected high and over the bar for a corner. Talk about end to end action. Short corner moves around cleared by Sands, gets to the GK. Cowell and Jesus caught flatfooted and the ball gets to a defender who plays it out to a US player. Sands having a game for himself, feeds Jesus who tries to redirect to Vasquez on goal but just beyond him. Davis with a long ball in has it grabbed up by Turner. Great run by Cowell but in the end it is wide. Miazga getting ready to come on as there is the 2nd hydration break of the game. Vasquez for Morris, Long off, Miazga on. USA brings it up the right side, but it sputters in the area. Jesus down for the USA but hobbles to his feet. Still with the long high balls Panama must see something that is just not there, yet at least. Sands, wins the tackle, has his feet then taken out and the offending player seems surprised? Djordie puts the DFK into the area, off the back of Robinson to the 6, how is nobody there? Diaz, holding but his help is not getting here. Morris gets it to Sands, Yedlin sends it in too high for Jesus. 87’ DFK Panama just below the center circle. Davis drives it in, Robinson heads it out, right back to Davis. 89’ Corner for US, just their 2nd on the night. Djordie takes the corner it gets to Miazga who cannot turn on it well. 5’ extra time. 93’ corner for Panama just their 3rd. 94’ an offside goal after a possible handball by the US? No handball, offside negates the goal, US free kick. 98’ US DFK from 25 yards. Now we face half an hour additional time, 120x 2 for the USA over their last 2 games.
Busio finds Jesus but his header is right at the GK. Turner way out of goal and at 99’ Panama goes up 1-0. 2 players left to run from Panama but the backline of the US as they were expecting an offside call, play the whistle! At the kickoff, Busio loses it and it’s in on goal, Turner gets the stop at the near post. Godoy comes in hard on Sands and gets a yellow. Welch for Godoy at 102’. Tolkin and his new hair is coming in soon it seems. Twice in succession, Busio & Jesus try to occupy the same space, Sands fouled again. Jones out for Tolkin. Roldan has a defender go over the top and is holding his head. 1’ of extra time, as if in slow motion, Jesus takes a floater out of the air and first times it into the net for 16 yards. He is now #2 for goals in a Gold Cup tourney trailing by 4.
Both teams will I am sure be cautious as we enter the last 15’ not wanting to give up the goal and lose, wanting to get to the spot kicks?
Sands gets the ball just inside the area, can’t lay it off or get a shot off and it’s lost. Tolkin took a blow and is bleeding from the mouth. Miazga seeking Morris, it’s over the line for a throw deep for USA. Tolkin overlaps Morris gets it 3x then dishes to Jordan, over the endline at 113’. Panama wants a caution for Tolkin, he put his hands up as the player was coming into him, did not push, did get the foul called. Escobar looking into the 6, does not beat Miazga who puts it over the touchline. 117’ a warning over the PA system of crowd remarks. Ferreira down getting scooped up of the field, declines and walks off. PK’s it is.
Turner between the sticks is a major advantage for the USA and disadvantage for the Panama team as he has saved 44% of all PK’s. Up first is the goal getter, Jesus, he went bottom right the other night going #4. Jesus goes to his left, as does the GK, save. Panama sends up Escobar the past NYRB player. He stares down Turner who saved the first one the other night, a blast right down the middle is true as Turner went far right. Djordie steps up now, his dad a player in the original NASL, he goes to his left and it’s a goal as the ‘keeper goes the other way. Diaz for Panama after a fashion, He gets Turner leaning left and goes to the opposite side. Morris of Seattle is next, his 55th cap, beats the GK who guessed right but went low as Morris went high. Martinez a past player in the states for a number of teams, a poor shot, no power big hesitation made it difficult to get much power and its barely halfway to the side of Matt, save made. Gressel just a citizen since Nov. is #4, He hammers it true as the GK goes the other way. Another slow one but it is rolled left and Turner goes right. All must score now. Miazga of NJ is up, he goes one way, the GK the other and it’s converted. Waterman steps up as Miazga is in his face. A save and US lives on. Turner time is NOW! Lower corner as Matt goes the wrong way. Roldan a local product trying to get another game in his home state at #6, is saved. If Panama scores it is over. Robert a 3rd year MLS player with Houston is up, he finds the net, Panama is in the title game.