photo by Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports
By FRANCO PANIZO
For the first 45 minutes, the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team looked like it might not score.
For the first 11 minutes of the second half, the Americans looked like they could not stop finding the back of the net.
The U.S. used a barrage shortly after halftime to help trounce Panama, 4-0, in their CONCACAF Olympic qualifying Group A finale on Tuesday night. The match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, was scoreless at the break, but three goals in a six-minute span after the intermission turned the close game into a blowout.
A Fidel Escobar own goal forced by Gboly Ariyibi in the 51st minute proved to be the difference, but halftime super subs Jerome Kiesewetter and Jordan Morris made immediate impacts by combining for the next two goals. Luis Gil capped the scoring with 19 minutes to play.
The result moved the Americans to 3-0, gave them their first shutout of the tournament, and eliminated Panama.
The U.S., which had won Group A even before playing on Tuesday, will now await the result of Mexico-Honduras on Wednesday to see which of the two nations it faces in a decisive semifinals bout this weekend.
After struggling to create many clear scoring opportunities in the first half, the reserve-filled U.S. lineup received a jolt of energy once usual starters Kiesewetter and Morris came into the game at the start of the second stanza.
The duo immediately helped open up more space for the U.S., which found the winner through an Escobar own goal six minutes after halftime. Ariyibi raced down the left side of the penalty area on the play and unleashed a venomous cross that Escobar’s outstretched leg accidentally pushed into the back Panama’s net.
Kiesewetter scored the first insurance goal in the 53rd minute, capping the first well-worked passing sequence from the Americans in the game. It ended with Morris feeding Kiesewetter inside the 18-yard box before the VfB Stuttgart attacker spun and fired a clinical shot on frame.
Their roles reversed three minutes later. Kiesewetter played an appetizing low ball in from the right that a streaking Morris one-timed into the back of the net for the 3-0 lead.
Kiesewetter had a hand in the final goal of the match, drawing a 71st-minute penalty kick that U.S. captain Luis Gil converted.
Panama had the better spells of possession and some half-chances to open the scoring in the opening 45 minutes, but it was the Americans who came closest. Maki Tall saw his 11th-minute strike saved by Panamanian goalkeeper Elieser Powell, who reacted superbly to deny Gedion Zelalem’s rebound.
The Central American country, which entered the match needing a 3-0 win to advance to the semifinals, never truly threatened Ethan Horvath’s goal. A low cross from the right in the first half carried some danger, but the attempt to push it on goal resulted in the ball rolling harmlessly to the opposite flank.
Horvath did make one notable stop in the first half, but it was on an effort from a tight angle.
The U.S. won Group A before taking on Panama because of Canada’s 2-2 draw with Cuba earlier on Tuesday night. The Americans will now play in the semifinals of Olympic qualifying on Saturday against whichever nation out of Mexico and Honduras ends up in second place in Group B.
A win in that weekend tilt, which will be disputed at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, would grant an automatic berth to next summer’s Olympics in Brazil.
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What did you think of the U.S. U-23s’ 4-0 triumph over Panama? Which players most impressed you? Would you prefer to see the Americans play Mexico or Honduras?
Share your thoughts below.
I watched the game on NBC Universo. In the SF Bay Area it was on Cable Channel 607. They also showed the Canada tie with Cuba half an hour before the US game.
Can we please hold off on projecting the Olympic team until we book a place?
There will be plenty of time to do that. As we know, anything can happen in a one game knockout.
I think the way these players are playing there is no need for any other players. The way this team played was very impressive. I thought they were playing a lot better than the USMNT. They were faster, and they had better skills, and their chemistry was such that they all wanted to play with one-another.
I totally disagree. We definitely need Yedlin and Brooks for sure. Simply because we cruise through a group against arguably very poor competition doesn’t mean much. The olympics will be on a whole other level. Plus you are forgetting the addition of the three overage players.
Does anyone else have problems with SBI on mobile where it takes you to some other site?
Yes this site is a disaster on mobile
Yes. Unusable. Fortunately, Ives is aware and the site is moving to a new platform that should fix the issues. I don’t know the timetable.
thanks
Telemundo has the game Saturday at 3pm Eastern Time. It’s also on http://www.nbcdeportes.com. Wood is too old for the Olympics, but would be an interesting overage option. The GK competition is strong. Horvath and Steffen are the leaders, but Jon Kempin of SKC is still eligible as is Cropper when he returns from injury. Charlie Horton is probably 5th out of those five. There is good competition at many position. Wide midfield could be the place where overage players come in handy. Wood, Sebastien Lletget, and maybe Ethan Finlay are guys without a lot of national team experience who might benefit from the Olympics.
I think Ariyibi has the LW position locked to himself if can continue to play like this.
What this team lacks is a true #6 like a Danny Williams but then that is a conversation we should have if we win on Saturday.
A couple of options at the # 6 could include:
Stanko, Canouse, Acosta
This group should have been a cakewalk and it was so job well done so far. Hopefully they can keep it up on Saturday. I know for English language it’s on some station no one gets but it’s on Telemundo too right?
There’s Andrija Novakovich. I think Bobby Wood is still under 23. And hey, if Julian Green ever starts playing….
Green is playing , but it’s just in the 4th division. 3 goals on the season so far.
I’d add maybe Arriola if he has a good season. Khiry Shelton if he starts next season strong for NYCFC. I like Acosta too, but it seems like we already have a roster full of central mids.
The way Kiesewetter was playing the RW makes Arriola dispensable plus you got Yedlin there too. I’m curious if Payne gets more 1st team minutes if he can force his way into this roster.
Wood is too old.
turns 23 this November
Lets say that we qualify for the Olympics in Brazil. Which players (excluding the 3 over aged) would could we possibly see added to the Squad? I can only think of the 6 listed below. Any other options out there that I’m overlooking?
Cropper, O’Neill, Brooks, Yedlin, Rubin, Payne,
The dark horse is Cameron Porter, assuming his recovery from an ACL rupture goes well.
Acosta from FC Dallas. Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if he was asked to come to this tournament but his club didn’t release him.
That would be a safe bet.
Rubin and Yedlin definitely. We seem to have a pretty strong CB pairing at the moment so not sure if Brooks should come in. Things can change though and he could be an option.