Panama beats US on penalties for third at Gold Cup

Panama won the shootout 3-2 after extra time ended with the score 1-1.

The Panamanian federation’s president later alleged the match was fixed, and players were seen arriving at PPL Park in suburban Philadelphia Saturday wearing T-shirts that read, “Dignity isn’t bought”. “They definitely deserved to win”. Though the foul count evened out over time, Panamanian players practically called their own fouls in the early going.

After Wednesday’s stunning 2-1 loss to Jamaica in the semifinals, this match was just kind of something that existed. The US’ fourth-place showing marking their second-worst in Gold Cup history after a 2000 quarter-final loss to Colombia on penalties.

“It’s obviously a disappointment”, Gulati said. Guzan had taken a step off his line and scrambled back for the ball, but it was too late.

Roberto Nurse obtained for Panama while in the 55th moment, and Clint Dempsey evened the game in the 70th with his contest- substantial goal that was seventh.

The penalties turned when the much-maligned Michael Bradley was stonewalled by Luis Mejia.

US goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who before the tournament had made a career of backing up Tim Howard, did well to keep his team alive and finished with 11 saves. It had been rsquo, the Americans& shootout since they beat Panama while in the 2005 Gold Cup final.

Panama missed several key participants as a result of damage or headgear, including its goalkeeper that was prime.

Although the first half ended goalless, Panama had the better of the play with three shots on target.

“We truly worked for this recreation”, instructor Hernan Gomez claimed, “and we experienced the-world outthere with our brains placed high”.

It marked the sixth Cup match in a row in which Panama took a 1-0 lead only to surrender a second-half equaliser. With the Americans instead trailing and scuffling, Klinsmann used DeAndre Yedlin and Dempsey as subs in the 60th minute, and they combined for the tying goal.

Yedlin created the opportunity with a deft run through the middle.

Yedlin controled the ball with his chest in the penalty area and flipped a pass right to Dempsey, who blasted the ball into the vacant net to pull the US level.

Because Klinsmann’s team won the 2013 Gold Cup, there will be a one-game playoff on October. 9 between the USMNT and either Jamaica or Mexico, whichever team wins the 2015 Gold Cup on Sunday. “This team can get better. The youngsters will learn from their mistakes on the field”. Then Mejia clinched the shootout and the third-place finish by stopping Beasley’s attempt. His experience and status in the game have clearly been a draw for younger players playing outside the U.S. They were lively in the opening exchanges, though they didn’t cause United States No. 1 Brad Guzan any genuine trouble. This is a good Gold Cup for Panama.

After that, Panama produced most of the chances and racked up a 25-5 shots advantage, 12-2 with shots on goal.

With Penedo out, it was reserve goalkeeper Luis Mejia who denied the last three US shooters in the penalties showdown to win for Panama. During last year’s World Cup when Jozy Altidore got injured, the US lacked a real threat up front, and having chosen to leave Landon Donovan out of his squad, questions were inevitably asked.