The USA’s Gold Cup venture can be summed up as Harry Dean Stanton’s character in Wim Wender’s Paris Texas, a man stumbling confused and disoriented in the Texas desert landscape under a blinding sun. He finally enters a saloon and collapses, dehydrated, and is resuscitated by a doctor. Which is what Jurgen Klinsmann will have to do to the USMNT if it has to rise from Gold Cup detritus. Today, the USA fell to Panama in the third place match beaten on penalties after extra time finished with both tied a goal apiece.
The defence was once again exposed with the USA left nursing a grievous wound 10 minutes into the second half as Rolando Nurse latching onto a through ball, ran rings around Tim Ream and John Brooks for a neat finish. It was also too easy as Ream and Brooks looked like they Panama was playing without their stars Blas Perez, Luis Tejada, and Jaime Penedo. The USA equalized through Deuce as he connected with a quick witted De Andre Yedlin finding an outlet just as he was hemmed in by the defense. Both came on as subs with the USA struggling to make an attacking impact.
The stats says it all. Panama had 12 shots on target to the USA’s one. They were also much more accurate in their passing and once again Armando Cooper shone with his quickness, passing abilities, and technical abilities. The USA were once again slow building from the backfield as the Panamanians with far more directness found the space to attack Brad Guzan. Cooper coming closest as he ran from midfield beating Omar Gonzalez and with Guzan drawn out, Tim Ream had to make a goal line save. Guzan had to be at his best saving Ronaldo Blackburn’s powerful header in regulation time and then Nurse’s belter with a fingertip save in extra time.
The penalties came. Panama were much more composed and with the sides tied 2-2, Fabian Johnson skied his effort but Cooper’s tame offering was saved by Guzan. Penedo’s stand in Luis Mejia saved Bradley’s penalty but Harold Cummings was able to convert to give Panama the lead. Mejia was once again on point saving DaMarcus Beasley’s shot and it was all over.