Kansas City, KS (July 13, 2015) – In their final mach of the group stage ended in a 1-1 draw. The USMNT draw with Panama put them at the top of Group A and gave Haiti the runner up position.
US Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann chose to rest some of the key starters as Gyasi Zardes and Chris Wondolowski started up top for the USMNT. Alfredo Morales also made his first appearance of the tournament. Panama Head Coach Hernan Dario Gomez played his first team in a must-win situation.
The first real action came off a set piece in the 10th minute as Luis Tejada headed the ball into the back of goal, but was correctly called offsides. In the 16th minute, Zardes found a streaking Alejandro Bedoya who went in on goal and forced a save out of Jaime Penedo.
Just seconds later, John Brooks was called for a foul on Blas Perez. Brooks was given a yellow card for the play. He will be suspended for the next match.
The game began to open up after that as both teams created chances for the rest of the half.
Panama began to take control of possession and chance creation. In the 34th minute, Tejada collected the ball at the top of the box. He made a move around Ventura Alvarado and delivered a low cross to Perez, who deflected it into the net.
Before the end of the half, Wondolowski flicked the ball to a streaking Bedoya. Bedoya headed the ball forward and was in on goal but tripped up and lost the ball. On replay it looked to be a clear foul, penalty, and possible DOGSO. No foul was called.
In the 43rd minute, Anibal Godoy was given a yellow card for contact to Zardes’s head on an aerial challenge.
The half ended 1-0. At half time, DeAndre Yedlin and Clint Dempsey subbed in for Morales and Wondolowski.
Alvarado fouled Perez an a header challenge in the 48th minute. He was given a yellow card.
The USMNT immediately improved with the second half substitutions, creating several chances. In the 51st minute, Zardes hit the wood work on a shot from the top of the box, though the play was called for offsides.
The USMNT would strike gold in the 55th minute. The Americans had good build up play as Dempsey found Bedoya making a run into the box. The midfielder took a touch to control then crossed the ball to a Michael Bradley who was making a run to the far post. The General made contact with the inside of his right foot and the match was level, 1-1.
The game began to open up as teams traded chances. Brooks made several key defensive stops on Perez including a sliding tackle in the box as Perez was running in on goal in the 59th minute.
In the 71st minute, Aron Johannson came on for Bedoya as the final U.S. sub. Roberto Nurse also came on for Tejada.
In the 74th minute, Bradley took a short corner. The ball was well placed, but it was deflected out with Brooks and Dempsey in the area. On a counter off the corner, Guzan made a one-handed save on a dangerous shot from Nurse.
The USMNT continued to create chances but neither side was able to find a go-ahead goal. The match would end 1-1. Panama now must wait to see if they can be a best third to advance to the knock out round. The USMNT wait to see which team they play in the first round of the knock out. They will take on the best third from Group B or C on July 18th in Baltimore.
