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USMNT thumps Panama to get back on track for World Cup

The U.S. Men’s National Team moved one step closer to the World Cup on Friday night by stepping up in the biggest game of the qualifying cycle.

Entering Friday, the USMNT’s World Cup status was very much in doubt, but that doubt was all but removed in a 4-0 shellacking of visiting Panama in Orlando. The match saw a pair of goals from Jozy Altidore, a goal and an assist from Christian Pulisic and a finish from Bobby Wood to vault the USMNT up to third in the Hex.

The USMNT came out of the gates hot, and that hot start led to an early goal. Just moments after a Panama chance, Altidore and Bobby Wood combined to flick a pass towards Pulisic. The 19-year-old attacker rounded Jaime Penedo, firing into an open net to open the scoring.

Pulisic provided on the second goal, firing an assist from the left-hand side. After beating his defender, Pulisic fired a pass across the box, leaving Altidore with a simple finish for 2-0.

The third came just before the halftime whistle as Wood was dragged down by Armando Cooper just inside the box. Altidore stepped up and scored via a Panenka, finishing off an ideal first half for the U.S.

Pulisic was taken out early in the second half, but it was more of the same for the USMNT. Wood pushed the lead to four in the 63rd minute on a Paul Arriola assist.

It was a dominant performance from the attacking group, who stepped up after scoring just one goal in September qualifiers. The Panama defense was on its heels throughout the opening half with Penedo making one-on-one saves on both Altidore and Wood to keep the scoreline from getting completely out of hand.

Defensively, the U.S. had nervy moments of their own as the match opened up late in the first half. However, the backline did just enough to keep Panama quiet and seal a massive shutout win with a World Cup on the line.

With the win, the USMNT moves up to third in the Hex, two points ahead of Panama. Because of the swing in goal differential, a draw on Tuesday against Trinidad & Tobago would more than likely be enough to seal the USMNT’s spot in Russia. Panama, meanwhile, faces off with Costa Rica in their final match of the Hex needing a win to stay alive for an automatic berth.

Comments

  1. are the usa youth still playing soccer up to the age of 13 and then switching to other sports such as basketball and baseball or did that trend change?

    i guess i’m wondering why we Don’t have 15 Christian Pulisics.

    Reply
  2. If you are going to play 2 forwards in the WC you had better be a great defensive team with players who can handle 1v1 challenges. Yedlin is close. Villafana? More of a skill player – not the best when we are under pressure, so that’s a concern. I think we’ll be ok at the CB position.
    Bradley generally does not break up attacks – he just holds on for dear life because he’s slow – esp with his lateral movements. But he does bring some good leadership on the ball.
    Maybe it comes down to the opponent: If we are playing, let’s say, Belgium, Bradley can’t play. You play Cameron or you bring in someone else. Weston McKinney, though young, is intriguing.
    If you are playing an opponent you think you can dominate with possession, then you play Bradley. The tough calls are the in-betweens. For those I think you go for it like the team did tonight and you play Bradley. Or you rethink the whole thing and play another formation!

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  3. Before we get too excited one way or another, I think we should remember that we have a lot better players than Panama and they made a big mistake by not bunkering in. A day or two ago I pointed out that we would be better at just about every position than any of the players from Panama or T&T. I think that is also true vs. CR, so tonight’s result is really what we should have done and what we should have been doing before. Tonight we finally played like we should and were helped by bad decisions by the Panamanian coach. Even with the travel, we should defeat T&T without too much trouble, IF we play as well as we are capable of. The good news is that unless Panama wins by 7 goals, a draw will probably be good enough to advance, unless Honduras wins tomorrow night vs. CR.

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    • Gary Page
      I agree with you. But all you are really saying is that tonight was awesome, and the team is perfectly capable of being amazing, So why not get excited? Why does everything have to be couched in the form of some negative observation? Are you not amped? Did you not see things out there that made you excited for next summer?

      Have some fun for a change!

      Reply
      • Ali, I was literally jumping up and down when the US scored the first 2 goals. But, I try to be realistic and view things from more than just the viewpoint of a fan and in the context of US soccer overall. The fact that it was a wonderful win should not blind us to the fact that this team has been under achieving for much of this Hex. Now the the WC is almost secure, we need to consider how the team can improve so as to advance in WC play. Who knows if any US players or coaches reads our rantings, but they certainly are aware of general feelings and they should realize that they need to do better in the future.

  4. the US players were not protected by the ref tonight, again. I’m used to it of course but it sucks, if Wood would have punched that guy in the face after getting smacked in the balls, he would have been justified imo

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    • Beachbum as always you hit it on the head (though I still don’t get why you have to throw in the JK bombs…. ). Our boys came out and did the job so well, and full credit to Arena for putting them in the right place to succeed. Panama never had a chance. Legendary beatdown in a must-win game.

      Perhaps the most enjoyable part was actually when Arena took Pulisic off. Completely broke what little was left of Panama’s spirit. Doesn’t even need to be explained.

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    • I’ve been following the USMNT since the 70’s and it is always like that. I will say if the Panamanians had done that stuff on the street they’d find themselves in jail for assault. The Mexican crew did themselves no favors in going to the world cup with a performance like that either. When you have little islands the have less than 100k population with the same politilcal strength within CONCACAF as a nation of 300m you will have priorities that don’t match. US, Mexico,Canada and Costa Rica should join CONMEBOL and let the thugs and little islands looking for bribes have CONCACAF. Otherwise clean it up so that it resembles a professional organization because right now it is an ugly mess. It is very frustrating to see but I love my NT so I will keep on supporting them but recovering from ‘Mr. Jack Warner’ was never going to be easy. VAR would be a welcome addition as to what went on last night but you have to have a referee who will request the screen as well. I saw the referee look straight at some of the assaults last night and he ignored it completely. What about booking European referees for the hexagonal matches. Some random thoughts on the nasty little world of CONCACAF. I have nowstepped off the soapbox!

      Reply
      • The officiating bordered on the criminal, all right. If the US had done to Panama what they did to us, there would have been at least one red card, maybe two, probably another PK, and 3 or 4 more yellow cards. The US should get high marks for their restraint.

  5. incredible blowout win and yet the predictable bitching and moaning…lmao

    Arena punched the buttons when needed most and got it right big time tonight. CP was hardly a ‘cental’ player tonight, come on people…he floated all over in the attack making him much more difficult for Panama to find the way Honduras did, for example. All the attacking players played all over the field and it was fun to watch them confuse Panama over and over again.

    @johhnyrazor You don’t have to give Arena credit for pulling the strings on his decisions with all the marbles on the table, but I sure as heck will.

    Re. possession, the US had a lot with the lead, when it’s a real friend. creating chances off the counter is beautiful and effective when you can possess the ball with the lead

    have almost overcome the Klinsmann handicap of going down 0-2 but not out of the woods yet

    Reply
    • I gave credit just don’t think deserves huge accolades for doing what was pretty obvious. The US in the hex has been much better offensively with Pulisic based in the center. You are correct he floated to right and left playing off of Wood and Altidore. Against CR and Hond. He was limited to only being on the right. As I side his choices of Arriola over FJ and Omar starting over Cam worked. It all worked out we won but it wasn’t rocket science. Bruce had pulled us out of the 0-2 JK hole 3 matches ago only to put us back into it by starting with poor tactics against Hon and CR and being way to slow to adjust. Had Arena not been completely out coached against CR at home we would already have clinched our birth.
      And seriously I’ve been defending Bradley all night and you choose to reply to me because I didn’t praise Arena enough.

      Reply
  6. Sorry all the Bradley haters out there. Michael actually did what a DM should do, he clogged the middle so Panama did not go that way, He was available for a pass on the few times his teammates needed a safe outlet and most of his passes connected with teammates.

    The only accurate criticism is that he did not break someones legs for fouls committed on Pulisic. Get real, that is not something he should do so I would call it a misguid
    ed criticism. Bradley, Altidore and Besler are carrying yellow cards, none of those players should have even attempted to be the “enforcer” some people want to see on the team. Frankly I have seen little evidence that having such a player does anything to protect a team’s stars, but it does often leave a team playing with 10 men.

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    • Dennis-Completely agree, I have a feeling the Bradley haters would have complained just as loud had put in some cheap tackles and been carded.

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  7. Regarding Pulisic playing on the wing or centrally. It is only a starting spot, like all good attacking players he will pop up centrally, wide, deep and push
    up high. What is needed is that teammates understand each other and move to areas to compliment each other. The US front 3 did that today Pulisic was wide as often as he was central and Wood and Altidore were central a decent fraction of the time.

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  8. Can we finally admit that this team is not going to do well as a possession first attack. Tonight we went back to our roots and it worked. Press high, win the ball, and push the ball forward fast. Americans are, at their roots, counter attackers. It is how we play, and we need to embrace that style now and for the foreseeable future. I do not think Nagbe fits this style, and it showed tonight, and Bradley needs to be stronger if he is going to man that space by himself, but overall it was much more what I want from this team. I think Bedoya (or Zardes if healthy) would have done well in Nagbe’s spot and would have helped MB immensely. If Wood, Altidore and Pulisic are going to play like that, we do not need Nagbe as much as we need a better two way player. Great job boys, lets close it out right!

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  9. Regarding Pulisic on the wing vs. centrally and a couple of other issues raised here, the US benefited from the mistake in tactics made by Panama. Costa Rica showed how to play us–with 5 back and hit on the counter. By trying to play us even and attack, Panama left themselves vulnerable to our speed from Wood and Pulisic. This is why it was beneficial to have Pulisic in the center of the pitch. Both he and Wood were able to beat the CB’s with their pace and they had space in which to operate since Panama was trying to attack. When Costa Rica played us, they played deep, never gave Pulisic space, and surrounded him when he got the ball. So, it depends a lot on the opposition as to where Pulisic is best. .

    Reply
    • … but CRs tactics shouldn’t have worked. When you let the team possess the ball as much as they let the US, you should expect to lose (unless you have Harry Kane or another world class striker, which they don’t). Almost every poster on this site hated when the US played this way. The difference was the US played that way out of necessity, not tactics. The US was unprepared and didn’t have a plan how to attack but if CR tries to play like that at the WC, I don’t think they will do very well. This website sucks so bad I can’t even see your comment anymore and I can’t even remember what I was going to say; I’m sure it was really smart though. Probably something like I think Pulisic might be our best player.

      Reply
  10. So good to see the US playing so quickly tonight and pushing forward so much. Seems like we’ve focused on possession for three or four years but tonight we finally just went for it. We looked dangerous all night (or at least until the game was basically over).

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  11. Am I the only one who would have loved to see Jermaine Jones whack the ever loving $h!t outta the first guy who took Pulisic to the ground…

    Reply
    • Reply to Bac
      Yes, going down a man and having to scratch and claw to hold the lead and having a starter sit out the important match at TnT would have been so satisfying.

      Costa Rica, USA, and Mexico need to push for VAR next cycle and post-match punishments for that cheap stuff off the ball. If CONCACAF wants to be taken seriously it needs its stars protected, it is not like Ruiz, Chicharito, Lozano, and Corona aren’t being fouled constantly too.

      Reply
  12. “Broken record time”
    Why is Michael Bradley still playing DM?
    We have Geoff Cameron, an EPL player
    Why do we have Michael Bradley at DM?
    We have Geoff Cameron who plays DM/CB for Stoke to Cement that defense
    Why do we still have Michael Bradley playing DM?
    Who is not breaking up plays or challenging HARD in midfield
    Why do we have Michael Bradley playing DM
    When we cannot even build plays from the back
    Why Oh why do we have Michael Bradley at DM
    When we have an EPL player who’s stronger, quicker and more physical

    “OK OK WE WON, LETS TRY TO ENJOY THE MOMENT AND APPRECIATE THE VICTORY”…..hahaha 😀

    Reply
    • Reply to Bizzy
      Cameron’s weaknesses are holding the ball and passing. I also don’t know how much faster he is than Bradley. When Stoke played Cameron there in past seasons (he’s been a CB in a 3man this season) there is always another deep midfielder next to him to be the distributor. Geoff can play DM for us if we played a five-man midfield, but he’d be worse than Bradley at the bottom of the diamond. I am also of the opinion putting Gonzo behind Cameron is worse overall than Cameron behind Bradley.

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      • @Johnnyrazor
        “he’s been a CB in a 3man this season”
        So let me get this Straight, a midfielder / Centerback who is versatile to play CB (BUT ALSO RB OR DM) in the 3 man backline….A 3 MAN BACKLINE!!!!! …and contribute for an EPL team that sits 13TH IN THE LEAGUE…..”would be worse than Bradley at the bottom of the diamond”???? DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST??? IN ONE OF THE BEST LEAGUES IN THE WORLD??? hahahahahahaha…..WHAT?!!!!!!!

      • @Johnnyrazor
        we have a player strong and physical enough to play CB
        Technical enough in his passing ability to play DM
        quick and reactive enough to defend the wings at RB
        ALL POSITIONS (Defensive midfielder, Right Back AND Center Back) IN THE EPL(Bradley can’t even get a job THERE playing in ONE of his positions hahaha 😀 )!!!!!!
        PERSPECTIVE
        CAN YOU SEE BRADLEY USED AT RB (for whatever reason) AT TFC? IN MLS!!!! HELL TO THE NO, too slow….way too slow
        CAN YOU SEE BRADLEY USED AT CB (AFTER A TEAM RED CARD)?? HELL TO THE NO, not physical enough (can’t even challenge in midfield).
        Now take a player WE HAVE IN OUR ARSENAL that can OR HAS DONE do all three AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL and “….he’d be worse than Bradley at the bottom of the diamond.”.??????
        ….think about it

      • Reply to Bizzy
        Let me try this again. Stoke didn’t require Cameron to be a holding midfielder that links play from back to forward. That’s is what the DM must do for the USMNT. Geoff would be good next to Bradley not instead of Bradley. I didn’t say Bradley is better than Cameron I said he was better than Gonzo.

      • hahahahahaha….let me try this again
        “Stoke didn’t require Cameron to be a holding midfielder that links play from back to forward. That’s is what the DM must do for the USMNT.”
        he has linked plays in the EPL between back and forward
        he has linked plays between the the goalkeeper to the midfielders sometimes even over lapping in attack….in the EPL
        so let me try this again he is more experienced AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL AT DM, playing against teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool etc in all these areas, than Michael Bradley

        Stoke didn’t require Cameron to be a holding midfielder…so???
        USMNT didn’t acquire Zusi as a RB
        USMNT didn’t acquire Beasley ORIGINALLY at let LB
        USMNT didn’t acquire Shea as a defender

        Hope you understand

      • @Johnnyrazor

        Full name Geoffrey Scott Cameron[1]
        Date of birth July 11, 1985 (age 32)
        Place of birth Attleboro, Massachusetts, United States
        Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
        Playing position Defender / Midfielder (LISTED AS A DEFENDER AND MIDFIELDER!!)
        A versatile player who is currently featured as center back but can also play as a right back,right winger, defensive midfielder, or attacking midfielder, Cameron has become known for his combination of aerial ability,passing ability, strength,athleticism, man marking and composure on the ball
        FYI

      • I am not sure why I am responding when you don’t realize the difference between acquire and require. Stoke put another midfielder next to Cameron to be the main distributor while Cameron could focus on breaking up attacks. When the US plays the diamond the DM has to do all the passing. I’m not sure where you got your description from but Cameron hasn’t played as a winger or CAM since Houston five years ago. You like who scored check his strengths and weaknesses. Cameron when healthy is one of our best players and he’s more versatile than Bradley, but Bradley is better than Omar so if Cameron is healthy he helps the team more at CB than DM.

      • It just shows your lack of perception. Had Zusi played right back before he RECENT GOT CONVERTED????……when Beasley can from Mexico had he played at left back before? How about when Brek Shea got converted? the answers are No, No and No.
        “Stoke put another midfielder next to Cameron”
        hahaha what other player would be next to him???
        “Cameron hasn’t played as a winger or CAM since Houston five years ago.”
        See above hahaha
        “he’s more versatile than Bradley but he is better than Omar so if Cameron is healthy he helps the team more at CB than DM.”
        weakest part of the USMNT’s game is the midfield
        so in that case to stop the bleeding in the midfield to bridge the gap between CB and our strikers.
        meaning Cameron would be more valuable in DM with his EPL experience than CB
        Say it with me Cameron is better than Bradley….not just versatile…BETTER. and if Omar yedlin, villafana and Besler can lock down our defense the way they did against panama, then Cameron with all this versatility and knowledge (of RB, CB, DM) in front of them will make the USMNT STRONGER.,….and WAY STRONGER than with Bradley at DM.

      • You still don’t understand it makes no difference how many positions Cameron plays or what league he plays in. What Stoke asked him to do as DM next to Glen Whalen is not what the USMNT would ask him to do. It’s like comparing Karl Malone and Dirk Novitzki, yes they both play the PF position, but Utah asked their PF to play with their back to basket and Dallas wanted their PF to spread the floor and open up drive lanes. If Cameron was replacing Kyle Beckerman it would be a good fit, break up attacks, commit some professional fouls, and relieve the pressure a couple times a game. That’s not what Bradley is asked to do, he as asked to drop deep and then distribute the ball to move the US into the attack, he’s doing essentially what he did with Beckerman just from a deeper spot. Cameron is a not a good passer, his passing stats are pretty low, if you think Bradley turns the ball over a lot watch Cameron. The problem is people continue to call Bradley a #6, he’s not and that’s not what Arena asks him to do. He’s still being asked to be a #8 just without someone playing deep next to him.
        ———————————————————————————————————————-
        People bashed Roldan’s performance in the GC, but its essentially the same problem Cameron would have. In Seattle Roldan plays next to Alonso. Alsonso does the dirty work handling tackles and breaking up attacks. Roldan then transitions the ball into the attack and runs into space created by Lodeiro, Morris, and Dempsey. In the GC Roldan was asked to play Alonso’s role, while Accosta was playing his role. If you looked at it on paper he played a deep midfield role, but what he was “required” to do in that role was vastly different. It remains to be seen if Roldan will ever be a Nat regular but the example still fits. Different formations and tactics force players to use different skill sets even if the name of the position is the same.

      • Cameron is not a good passer
        (YET HE IS AN ACTIVE EPL PLAYERS)
        “What Stoke asked him to do as DM next to Glen Whalen is not what the USMNT would ask him to do”
        (WHAT MOST NATIONAL TEAM COACHES ASK PLAYERS TO DO IS NOT WHAT CLUB TEAMS ASKED THE VERY PLAYERS TO DO……I thought you knew this)
        “That’s not what Bradley is asked to do, he as asked to drop deep and then distribute the ball to move the US into the attack”
        (HE IS USE AS DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER, NOT A NUMBER 6, SO YOUR OBSERVATIONS ARE CORRECT MEANING HE IS NOT DOING WHAT HE NEEDS TO BE DOING AS A DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER….hence the reason our midfield is terrible)
        The problem is people continue to call Bradley a #6, he’s not
        (YOU JUST DESCRIBED HIM AS A NUMBER 6 – ” he as asked to drop deep and then distribute the ball to move the US into the attack”…THATS THE JOB OF A CENTRAL MIDFIELDER. WE HAVE BETTER PLAYERS TO MOVE AND DISTRIBUTE THE BALL MORE EFFECTIVELY AND DYNAMICALLY THAN BRADLEY and you know or should know this)
        Talking about Beckerman and Roldan shows you don’t understand the facts and the level of technical ability, skill and physical attributes it takes and what is necessary to play and be successful in a NO BS league like the English Premier League, let alone be versatile enough and exceptional enough to be used in multiple areas . BRADLEY HAS NO QUALITY THAT IS BETTER THAN CAMERON. NONE (and that’s a bold statement!!!). It’s like you are comparing Messi and Giovinco. Just because they are both unstoppable and Dynamic in their respective leagues and dominate in their area, you cannot compare Messi and Giovinco because they are achieving success at ABSOLUTELY different levels (Messi can come DOWN to his level and dominate but Giovinco cannot go UP to Messi’s level and dominate)
        So in conclusion, PLAYING DM AT THE BOTTOM OF A DIAMOND for the USMNT, distributing the ball to the wings, moving forward to aid in attack, being quick, strong and physical enough to breakup plays / Counterattacks….. GEOFF CAMERON IS A BETTER FIT AND BETTER PLAYER THAN MICHAEL BRADLEY, and thats why myself and so many others don’t know why he is still playing at that position

      • Cameron last season was rated as the 146th best possession defender (meaning 145 defensive players were better in possession than he was the EPL) This a combined passing and dribbling computer ranking. He was 59th in defense, 55th in attack, and 70th overall. He was 156 best defender for possession in 2015/16 and 88th overall. Out of the 5 matches he’s played this season for Stoke he has had the worst possession rating 2 out of those 5.
        ———————————————————————————————————————
        If you want to play him next to Bradley in the old Jermain Jones spot or the Beckerman spot that would work, but to replace Bradley for Cameron would be an utter failure. I love Cameron if he wasn’t so injury prone I’d make him captain, he has incredibly good hair, and he is a better CB than Bradley is DM at this point, but Bradley is still a better DM than Cameron would the way the US uses him.
        ———————————————————————————————————————–
        I don’t really know why I’m continuing you are just going to all caps that Cameron plays in the EPL 14 times and quote something I said without any point and then act like you proved something. As always I know your heart is in the right place, and it provided me with some entertainment between matches.

  13. Maybe it sounds silly to complain, but they should have had 7 or 8. I hope Bruce will talk to the players about not being selfish. Several times players tried to score 1 v 1 when they could have passed across the goal for a simple tap in by a teammate. While it didn’t matter this game, it might next game, so they need to correct that.

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  14. so many excuses for Bradley as to why he has any bit of trouble or not up to a expected standard. I remember when Jones would play with broken knees and then put Neymar to the ground if our players were attacked. Bradley just sits there knowing his fathers best friend is the coach. No worries. Spot Secure.

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    • If you go into the match looking for mistakes from a player you’ll find them. If you set out to want to see Pulisic fail you could have found plays tonight to prove your point. You can do the same any night to Messi or Ronaldo. It wasn’t Bradley’s best game, but it was by no means awful. A lot of the problem was the team’s shape because the offensive six players were smelling easy goals and loss touch while Besler and Omar were staying too deep. As captain Bradley has to shoulder some blame for that, but not all of it.

      Reply
    • Bradley was not good in the first half. He gave the ball away several times killing our rhythm and giving Panama some extended possession. I thought he was better in the second half.

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    • Plays Pulisic centrally two of first three matches 2-1-0 7 pts +8 GD
      Plays Pulisic on the wing next three matches 0-2-1 2 pts -2 GD
      Moves Pulisic back central 3 pts
      ————————————————————————————————————————
      Yes, let’s praise Arena’s genius. I was happy that Bruce actually didn’t wait too long to bring on another CM that shored up the midfield a little and the second two goals took the fight out of Panama. If Torres shot after the Gonzo error goes in instead of being the goal kick that sprung Pulisic for the first goal the board would be full of people screaming for BA’s head.
      ————————————————————————————————————————
      Arriola and Villafana played well enough tonight to quiet the Johnson contingent somewhat. Gonzo over Cameron was shaky a couple of times, but I would think that decision was fitness related given Geoff has one match since the injury.

      Reply
  15. I told you yesterday that,i was confident in the usa win by 4-0 whit pulisic,Altidore two
    and the growing young man Bobby Wood and the Dc United and 22 years old Paul Arriola,
    that give an assist for the last goal…All play like warriors like this man said,but a mentioned
    2 goal,know has a many goals of diference….So he is in russia,Panama win it 3-1 TyT in
    Trinidad and tobago.
    This was a Usa Soccer victory,win in U17 usaboys 3-0 to India it was a big day

    Reply
  16. Where was this intensity last window? I think our shape played more like a 433 rather than the stated 442. Pulisic at CAM is undisputable at this point, Dortmond should even try it. Need to keep up thid intensity though.

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    • Another thing, I think Panama game planned for Pulisic to be at wide RM hence the first half sub when they realized they meeded a change in personnel.

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    • @Joe Dirt

      the intensity was there last window, they just had a bad game.

      my (unpopular) opinion is that the costa rica game wasn’t that bad, and this panama game wasn’t that good. (the honduras match was what it was: an away wcq in concacaf.)

      costa rica came to bunker and play for a draw, and a couple of mistakes on our part surprised them with a win. when teams bunker against us, they can make us look impotent—especially if they’re allowed to kick pulisic out of the game.

      panama apparently only paid attention to the “kicking pulisic” part. i have no explanation for why panama played so open last night; it was a huge tactical blunder, and it gave us an easy win. you can bet that panamanians will be criticizing gómez and their players the way most usa fans have been criticizing arena and our players.

      Reply
      • Reply to Nate
        Ha ha .. I didn’t think the CR game was as bad as everyone else either but we might be the only two (at least on this site) that think that. US was very unlucky in that game and CR was playing for a tie and a win fell into their lap. US didn’t know how to create opportunities from the possession that CR allowed them to have; they didn’t get may opportunities but they sure should have. I think I rate the Hondorus game a little worse than you do though; I think they were affected by the CR result. That one, was especially tough to watch. I think that one was beyond a CONCACAF road game.

  17. What was all the talk about Pulisic needs to be played on the wing? The Wood, Pulisic, and Altidore were excellent probably unlucky not to have two or three more, but Panama could say the same. Yedlin being able to bail out CBs a couple times was huge. I know we likely only need a pt in TnT, but I hope we don’t see the empty bucket and dump and chase for 75 minutes in Trinidad.

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      • Reply to trackblock
        A lot of people on here the last couple days were trying to keep CP on the wing saying he is not a central player. Yes, he drifted outside tonight, but his wide play was twenty yards off the line instead of the five in the last two matches were he could be penned in.

    • @johnnyrazor

      regarding pulisic out wide: i still say it depends on the situation.

      when teams set up to sit back and clog the middle, as i assumed panama would, it makes sense to move your best creator wide to (a) give him space to create, and (b) draw the “cloggers” out of position to open up the middle of the field.

      in that case, the only reasons for still keeping him central would be to make space for other creators on the outside (we don’t really have any), or to get good set pieces from the opponent’s constant fouling (not a good bet in concacaf).

      of course, when panama inconceivably plays an open attacking game—as i said in another comment, there is no explanation for their tactical setup last night—hell yes, move pulisic central where he can do the most damage.

      Reply
      • Reply to Nate
        I understand what your saying. However throughout the Hex we have been far more productive with Pulisic no matter the opponent. It allows him play from side to side making it harder to track and it run into the spaces created by the forwards. He’s going to get whacked, but he got whacked plenty playing wide. We’ll see if Arena holds to his word and plays to win or if he moves him back to the wing and sits back for the draw against Trinidad on the road which is what we’ve done throughout qualifying.

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