USMNT plays Panama to 1-1 draw in World Cup Qualifying

PANAMA CITY, Panama (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Men’s National Team went on the road to the hostile confines of Estadio Rommel Fernandez and earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against host Panama thanks to Clint Dempsey’s MNT-best 18th career World Cup Qualifying goal.

Now sitting fourth in the Hexagonal standings, the away point gives the U.S. four total after four of 10 Hex matchdays and sees the team securely in the race for CONCACAF’s three automatic berths to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

An evenly played first half saw the U.S. strike first when Christian Pulisic put in the hard work to run down a Jermaine Jones long ball, strip one Panama centerback before evading the other to set up Dempsey for his 56th career goal and fourth in two games, having secured a hat trick against Honduras four days earlier thanks to a pair of Pulisic assists and one spectacular free kick. The goal puts Dempsey one short of Landon Donovan (57) for the all-time MNT goal scoring record.

Panama retaliated with a scrappy goal from Gabriel Gomez just minutes before the half-time whistle and while both sides hunted for a winner in the second half, strong defensive plays from Tim Howard, Tim Ream and Omar Gonzalez helped the U.S. see the game out and earn an important point on the road.

Next on the Schedule: The U.S. MNT will continue its quest to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer when the USA will host Trinidad & Tobago on June 8 and head to Mexico on June 11. Match venues, kickoff times and television information will available in the coming weeks.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Clint Dempsey (Christian Pulisic), 39th minute: A long-ball was played into the right side of the Panama penalty area where Christian Pulisic picked the pocket of Los Canaleros captain Felipe Baloy before maneuvering past Ramon Torres to feed Clint Dempsey for a sliding finish into the lower left corner for an initial U.S. lead. USA 1, PAN 0 [ WATCH ]

USA – Gabriel Gomez, 43rd minute: A long throw-in deep into the heart of the U.S. area fell free in the left side of the six-yard box after a host of players attempted to get a head to the ball. Gabriel Gomez was first to the loose ball and snapped a right-footed shot inside the near right post just as numerous U.S. players closed in. USA 1, PAN 1 [ WATCH ] FINAL

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
USA – Tim Howard, 33rd minute: A long ball over the top of the U.S. defense into the left corner took a kind bounce for Quintero who was able to evade a defender in order to get a clean look at goal from near the top left corner of the six-yard box. However, Tim Howard stepped out to close down the angle and made a strong save to deflect Quintero’s point blank shot away from danger and keep the score knotted at 0-0.

PAN – Felipe Baloy, 51st minute : Getting across the face of goal, Balloy made up for losing the ball on the USA’s opening goal by making a flying block on a well-struck Pulisic volley that was targeted for goal as the scored remained 1-1.

USA – Tim Ream, 57th minute: A breakaway for Gabriel Torres was initially run down by Omar Gonzalez who forced the Panama attacker to put on the brakes in the right side of the U.S. box. With the ball rolling toward the penalty spot and Torres lining up an uncontested shot on Howard’s goal, Ream streaked in with a sliding tackle to deny the opportunity and keep the teams level at one goal apiece.

USA – Tim Howard, 59th minute: An offensive foray by Panama culminated in a switch of play from left to right where the ball was headed into the right side of the U.S. box by Ramon Torres. It landed at the feet of Luis Tejada, whose shot caught up underneath a charging Tim Howard, keeping the game tied at 1-1.

NOTES:

• The U.S. Men’s National Team continued its unbeaten run in Panama City where it is now 3-0-2 while holding an 11-1-5 all-time advantage against Panama.
• The MNT is an unbeaten 5-0-2 against Panama in World Cup Qualifying and 2-0-2 when playing at Estadio Rommel Fernandez.
• Clint Dempsey recorded his 18h all-time World Cup Qualifying goal, furthering his lead as the MNT’s all-time leader in Qualifying goals scored.
• The goal also pushed Dempsey’s overall goal total to 56, placing him just one behind Landon Donovan (57) for the USA’s all-time lead.
• Dempsey now has four career international goals vs. Panama, and with 38 caps is also now just two World Cup Qualifying appearances shy of Donovan (40) for the MNT’s all-time lead.
• Just a day shy of the one-year anniversary of his MNT debut, Christian Pulisic started for the U.S. in his seventh World Cup Qualifying appearance. The 18-year-old leads the team with five assists in 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, while his three goals tie him with Bobby Wood for third on the team’s Road to Russia.
• U.S. MNT head coach Bruce Arena made three changes to the starting XI that faced Honduras on Friday, inserting Jermaine Jones, Tim Ream and Graham Zusi.
• The MNT starting XI had a combined 197 appearances and 45 goals all-time in FIFA World Cup Qualifying.
• · Altidore, Dempsey and Zusi are the only three starters to have previously played a World Cup Qualifier in Panama. Altidore and Zusi appeared in the 3-2 win on Oct. 15, 2013, while Dempsey was a substitute in the MNT’s 3-0 victory on June 8, 2005.
• After serving a one-game suspension during Friday’s 6-0 win against Panama, Jones earned his 17th World Cup Qualifying appearance and 69th cap.
• Ream earned his fourth career World Cup Qualifying cap and first start since a 0-0 draw at Trinidad & Tobago on Nov. 17, 2015.
• Having made his World Cup Qualifying debut against Honduras, Jorge Villafaña started at left back again tonight in his fourth-straight appearance for the MNT.
• The U.S. used all three of its subs vs. Panama with Alejandro Bedoya coming on for Darlington Nagbe in the 69th minute, Kellyn Acosta replacing Jermaine Jones in the 75th and Paul Arriola entering in place of Jozy Altidore in the 82nd.
• Set to face Panama once again during this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, the U.S. has twice defeated the Central American nation in the tournament’s championship game, winning on penalty kicks following win the 2005 crown and earning a 1-0 win to lift the trophy in 2013.
• Panama’s only win against the United States came via a 2-1 victory during the CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage on June 11, 2011.

– U.S. Men’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Panama
Date: March 28, 2017
Competition: 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – Qualifier
Venue: Estadio Rommel Fernandez; Panama City, Panama
Kickoff: 9 p.m. CT
Attendance: TBC
Weather: 80 degrees; Mostly Clear

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                        1 0 1
PAN                         1 0 1

USA – Clint Dempsey (Christian Pulisic)     39th minute
PAN – Gabriel Gomez                                43

Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 19-Graham Zusi, 3-Omar Gonzalez, 14-Tim Ream, 2-Jorge Villafaña; 10-Christian Pulisic, 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 13-Jermaine Jones (23-Kellyn Acosta, 75), 15-Darlington Nagbe (11-Alejandro Bedoya, 69); 8-Clint Dempsey, 17-Jozy Altidore (9-Paul Arriola, 82)
Subs not used: 5-Matt Besler, 6-Dax McCarty, 7-DaMarcus Beasley, 12-David Bingham, 16-Sacha Kljestan, 18-Chris Wondolowski, 20-Geoff Cameron, 21-Walker Zimmerman, 22-Nick Rimando
Head coach: Bruce Arena

PAN : 1-Jaime Penedo, 13-Adolfo Machado; 23-Felipe Baloy (capt.), 5-Roman Torres, 17-Luis Ovalle; 6-Gabriel Gomez (21-Amilcar Henriquez, 80), 20-Anibal Godoy, 11-Armando Cooper, 19-Alberto Quintero (8-Edgar Yoel Barcenas, 75); 9-Gabriel Torres (22-Abdiel Arroyo, 83), 18-Luis Tejeda
Subs not used: 12-Jose Calderon, 2-Michael Amir Murillo, 3-Jan Carlos Vargas, 4-Roderick Miller, 14-Miguel Camargo, 15-Eric Davis, 16-Josiel Nunez, 10-Alejandro Taylor
Head coach: Hernán Darío Gómez

Stats Summary: USA / PAN
Shots: 7 / 19
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 4
Fouls: 10 / 14
Offside: 0 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Marvin Torrentera (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Hernandez (MEX)
Fourth Official: Erick Miranda (MEX)