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USMNT vs. Panama: SBI Live Match Commentary

USAPanamaLogosHEX

By IVES GALARCEP

SEATTLE- The U.S. Men’s National Team is back home for World Cup qualifying tonight at CenturyLink Field as they take on Panama in their second of three CONCACAF HEX qualifiers in June (10:30pm, ESPN).

The U.S. come in riding a three-match qualifying unbeaten streak, and they are currently tied for the most points in the HEX with seven (tied with Costa Rica). A win tonight would help the U.S. hold at least a share of the lead in the standings at the mid-way point of the qualifying round.

Panama has its own aspirations of a top spot in the standings, and an upset win against the U.S. would help the Canaleros catapult past the U.S. in the standings.

More than 40,000 fans are expected to fill CenturyLink Field for tonight’s match, with heavy pro-Seattle Sounders crowd expected to be in full voice as two Sounders (Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans) make starts for the U.S. tonight.

Johnson and Geoff Cameron have been deputized into starting roles tonight in place of Jermaine Jones (concussion) and Graham Zusi (yellow card suspension).

In case you missed it earlier, be sure to read the SBI Preview on tonight’s USA-Panama match.

If you will be watching tonight’s match, please feel free to join us here as SBI chronicles all the action. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Tonight’s SBI Live Match Commentary is after the jump):

Comments

  1. Interesting note: Mexico (and Jamaica) have played 6 games, the rest of the Hex five.

    Anyone see Honduras or Panama leap-frogging Mexico for third place?

    Reply
    • Leo,

      El Tri are in trouble.

      Mexico has 4 games left.

      1. Honduras Home
      2. US Away
      3. Panama Home
      4. Costa Rica Away

      They have 7 points. Traditionally the number of points for third place is about 16-17.

      I think the US beats them.

      Which means they have to run the rest of the table to get 9 points which would give them 16, the bare minimum for third. It looks pretty iffy to me.

      You guys were just calling for JK’s head. Just imagine what it must be like for Chepo.

      Reply
  2. MOTM was Bradley in my opinion. Another top quality performance. But really, attaboys all around. My lowest grade is for Gonzalez, and that’s a 6.5/10.

    Reply
  3. So was it the quality of the USMNT that made Panama look so poor? I haven’t seen that in ages. Cameron had a great game. Jozy, awesome, fearsome. DMB, also great. MB, so good. GOD, I wish Tim Ream could get some playing time. I’d love to see a brilliant passer out of the back.
    Demsey —I don’t get it. He was subpar. I think he’s injured.
    Anyway.
    That was fun.
    So who co we miss on yellow accumulation vs. Honduras?

    Reply
    • Tejeda split the center backs as a center forward should. Besler needs to communicate with Omar in that situation. And, Omar needs to talk with Besler to make sure who has that man. Thankfully, Timmy came off his line.

      Reply
  4. Probably the best game the USA has turned in for Klinsmann. Certainly, it is in a game that mattered.

    Still, Dempsey’s touch has really let him down. He could have had a hat-trick.

    Reply
    • In a game that mattered? Absolutely, Fischy. A complete performance from back to front in a non-friendly. Qualifying is now a formality…it is time to figure out how to reproduce THIS performance against tough opposition. It’s been a joy to watch.

      Reply
  5. Dempsey does not deserve to be captain. He goes down way to easy holds the ball too long and hasnt been involved the past few games.

    Reply
  6. Even better than the goal is that the defense hs not made any bad mistakes. And panama looks pretty good on the attack…

    Reply
  7. This game is a great display for why we should use Cameron needs to be on the field for us in some capacity. He is doing amazing work in the center of the field.

    Reply
  8. Gotta love the TRUE homefield advantage not afforded by venues out east and most certainly any down south!!!….One of these days Seattle will get a grass pitch or the technology for a temporary one will be better advanced!

    Reply
  9. Fabian and Jozy did their jobs, but Bradley’s run made that goal. He is our playmaker. Cameron should stay behind him at all times.

    Reply
    • The big negative to JJ is that he prevents MB from getting forward as much as he should bc he has to cover for JJ’s wandering a$$

      Reply
      • Yeah. But it is a plus to have two who can create in the attack. That’s one reason I don’t like Jones. He can swing the ball around but he’s not that great at picking his head up on the dribble and finding the right pass. Bradley is, and Holden will be eventually… I hope.

      • Yeah. But it is a plus to have two who can create in the attack. That’s one reason I don’t like Jones. He can swing the ball around but he’s not that great at picking his head up on the dribble and finding the right p@$$. Bradley is, and Holden will be eventually… I hope.

      • So true, for whatever reason, Jones isn’t as disciplined as he should be when he plays with MB or theoretically behind MB…. so MB out of necessity has to shade behind him and allow him to meander around. The chemistry between Cameron and MB was unreal.

  10. Cameron is playing his azz off…same for Jozy and MB…. the MB/Cameron pairing looks freakishly solid…1-2 touch passing, covering for each other…. extremely solid stuff.

    Reply

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