Although it wasn’t the smoothest game, the U.S. Men’s National Team managed to leave Panama City for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier with a hard fought 1-1 draw against a defensive and determined Panamanian side.
A physical Panama team left the U.S attack disjointed and out of sorts throughout the game, but a poacher’s goal from Clint Dempsey, assisted off of an eye catching dribbling display and pass by U.S. darling Christian Pulisic, put the U.S. ahead around the forty minute mark in the first half. The striker’s 56th career goal, and Men’s National team best 18th career World Cup qualifying goal, wasn’t meant to be the game winner, however, as Panama struck back close to four minutes later with a scrappy goal after some slack U.S. defending in their own box.
Both teams searched for a go-ahead goal in an even second half, but a draw played out in the end, as both sides seemed content to take a point at Estadio Rommel Fernandez. The MNT is now 11-1-5 all-time against Panama and continue their unbeaten run in Panama City, which is now at five games (3-0-2). The draw gives the U.S. four points in the Hex table after four games, as they stay at fourth in the standings; behind Panama (5), Costa Rica (7), and Mexico (10).
Head coach Bruce Arena was pleased with taking four total points from the Honduras and Panama games in his first two competitive matches back as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National team.
“We're obviously in better shape with four points in two games,” said Arena after the game. “So we made progress obviously. “It was just a battle. The referee tonight wasn't going to call too many fouls. It was a slugfest for 90 minutes.”
After sitting last place in the table just six days ago, the team now find themselves back in a much more comfortable spot, as they are firmly in the running for CONCACAF’s three automatic berths to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Clint Dempsey’s goal Tuesday night, on the back of a hat trick against Honduras four days earlier in San Jose, now has him one goal short of Landon Donovan’s all time goal scoring record of 57. “Deuce” will get a chance to catch Donovan perhaps when the U.S. continue their qualification run on June 8, when they play host to current basement dwellers of the Hex, Trinidad & Tobago. They will then take on CONCACAF rivals Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on June 11th, in what should be another close-fought matchup between the two sides.
