Mercifully, and not one millisecond too soon, the US national team’s humbling run at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup is over after a penalty kick shootout defeat (1-1, 3-2 PKs) to Panama in the third-place game at PPL Park on Saturday.
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The USMNT, out-shot 25 to 5 (12 to 2 on target) by Los Canaleros on the day, was thoroughly outplayed for the fifth time in sixth games (Honduras, Haiti, Panama, Jamaica and now Panama once again) at this Gold Cup. At home. By Panama.
After an opening 45 minutes that saw Panama create the game’s only real goalscoring chances — including a goal-bound ball cleared off the line by Tim Ream — Panama broke the scoreless deadlock in the 55th minute, when Roberto Nurse got in behind the USMNT back line, cut inside past a lumbering, lazy John Brooks challenge, and slotted the his left-footed shot around Brad Guzan and inside the far post.
Just have a look at this tremendous defending from the USMNT defense.Nurse gets away from Brooks and Ream to give Panama a 1-0 lead in the 3rd place game. #USAvPAN #GoldCup2015 http://t.co/rBM8BwjQhq
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 25, 2015
The Americans responded just 15 minutes later, though, when Michael Bradley found a streaking DeAndre Yedlin making a diagonal run into the Panamanian penalty area, where the Tottenham Hotspur youngster chested the ball down and played it out wide to Clint Dempsey, who floated a right-footed shot into an open net for his seventh goal of the tournament (leading scorer).
Two #USMNT subs combine for the equalizer as DeAndre Yedlin sets up Clint Dempsey. #USAvPAN #GoldCup2015 http://t.co/oDnrzD1mEV
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 25, 2015
After a scoreless 30 minutes extra time were played, Saturday’s consolation game was to be decided in a penalty kick shootout.
Aron Johannsson kicked things off and gave the USMNT a 1-0 lead. Roman Torres converted Panama’s first attempt from the spot. 1-1. Clint Dempsey dinked the Americans’ second spot kick down the center of the goal. 2-1. Abdiel Arroyo beat Guzan on Panama’s second try. 2-2.
[ MORE: Three things the Gold Cup taught us about Klinsmann and his USMNT ]
Fabian Johnson was the first to miss in the shootout, blazing his right-footed attempt over the crossbar. Armando Cooper couldn’t capitalize with Panama’s third attempt, as Guzan saved his weakly-hit roller with ease. Still 2-2. Michael Bradley’s ensuing effort was saved by a fully outstretched Luis Mejia at his right-hand post. Harold Cummings then beat Guzan after the ‘keeper got a hand to his attempt. 3-2, Panama.
DaMarcus Beasley, in his final international appearance for the Stars and Stripes, saw the shootout’s final penalty attempt saved by Mejia. A fitting end — not to Beasley’s USMNT career — but the Americans’ tournament.