Good evening folks. Tonight is the crucial second Olympic qualifying match for the U.S. national team, which is in dire need of three points after its opening match draw against Cuba.
U.S. coach Peter Nowak has made some wholesale changes to his lineup. Here is what tonight’s lineup will look like:
——————-Altidore——————
Gaven————-Adu—————-Holden
———–Kljestan—McCarty—————–
Sturgis——-Edu—–Orozco———Wynne
——————Seitz————————-
I definitely like this lineup better than the Cuba lineup. Gaven and Holden are far more adept at playing wing roles than Charlie Davies and Robbie Findley were. I also think that Kljestan and McCarty looked good in the second half against Cuba and have the vision to get some nice passes to Altidore. The back-line is a bit of an experiment, with Sturgis at left back and Edu playing center back, but Panama’s attack wasn’t exactly dangerous in its first match of the tournament.
I will be doing a running commentary during the match so feel free to share your thoughts and views on the match (and the U.S. lineup) in the comments section below.
Enjoy the match.
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FINAL- A better performance for the Americans, including more promise from Jozy Altidore in the second half and great showings from Stuart Holden, Michael Orozco and Eddie Gaven. It will be interesting to see what starting XI Peter Nowak uses for the final group match against Honduras.
Thanks for following the match here. Please share your thoughts on the match below.
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FINAL- Game over. USA 1, Panama 0. And the Americans have clinched a place in the semifinals. Now it’s a question of whether they can beat Honduras to top Group A.
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93rd minute- Davies and Findley set to come on, they look like a law firm, the law firm of Wecant, Finish and Forsquat.
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92nd minute- Sturgis with a yellow late.
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90th minute- Not sure how much stoppage time is left. And a Panama forward, No. 18, is looking for a penalty call. The only call he’s getting is that he looks like the rapper T.I.
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88th minute- There’s that Zizzo speed.
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86th minute- Panama with a dangerous chance but Panama’s Aguilar sends his chance wide left. Scary moment for the Americans.
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81st minute- Still waiting to see the speed from Zizzo we saw at the U-20 World Cup.
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79th minute- Here’s a question. Will the Americans be able to beat Honduras in game three without some of tonight’s key players, like Altidore and Holden? Or will we see those players full another full match just two days after tonight’s match?
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75th minute- Soft foul on Dax McCarty gives Panama a dangerous free kick.
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72nd minute- Altidore with a great turn and run that draws a foul and yellow card on Panama.
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64th minute- Zizzo in for Gaven.
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63rd minute- Sal Zizzo coming in to the match.
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61st minute- Panama with a dangerous free kick, cleared out for a corner kick.
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60th minute- The number of unforced turnovers in this match is astronomical
Nice run by Gaven in the area, helps create a corner.
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58th minute- Nice to see a referee not fall for a blatant dive. Panama with the yellow for diving.
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56th minute- Wow, Adu gets punched in the chest and no official sees it. Unbelievable play. If that player is identified he has to be out of the tournament.
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55th minute- Holden sends the free kick wide. Apparently a smidge is three yards.
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54th minute- Adu with a nice move to draw a free kick. Dangerous spot.
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52nd minute- Not a good game from Sacha Kljestan tonight. Too many turnovers.
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50th minute- I think it’s time for an SBI drinking game. The next time Christian Miles says calamitous everyone has to drink.
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46th minute- And there’s Gaven drawing a free kick. Good stuff from him tonight.
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46th minute- And the second half is under way.
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HALFTIME- And THERE’S Giuseppe Franco. Never fails.
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HALFTIME- Hondurah. Apparently it’s a country. Who knew?
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HALFTIME- We’re 10 minutes into halftime and haven’t seen a Giuseppe Franco commercial. Somebody called the Guinness Book of World Records.
And are there any AeroGarden’s left after all the potheads buy them? Seriously.
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HALFTIME- You know who has played well tonight? Eddie Gaven. I know he gets so much flack from national team fans but tonight he looks pretty good.
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HALFTIME- USA is up 1-0 at the half. Not a beautiful half but a better 45 minutes than against Cuba.
The midfield is playing well and the Edu (Maurice Edu, not the Christian Miles creation Freddy Edu) Orozco center back tandem is playing well. I must say that Marvell Wynne looks really awkward out there. I kept hearing how his skill had improved at Toronto. Not seeing it tonight.
And another thing, is Dax McCarty officially the Macauley Culkin of MLS? He looks like he’s 12.
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45th minute- Is it me or is this Panama team pretty chippy?
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44th minute- And yes, that was Eddie Gaven with the perfect floating ball that found Altidore for the breakaway.
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42nd minute- GOAL USA. Freddy Adu converts the penalty kick.
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41st minute- PENALTY. JOZY ALTIDORE draws a penalty on the Panama goalkeeper.
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34th minute- Altidore isn’t having a good game tonight. He needs a second forward alongside him.
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31st minute- It isn’t every day you see someone knock Jozy Altidore to the ground on a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge.
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30th minute- Nice job by the Panama No. 10 trying to start something and then backing away hoping to get the ref’s attention.
The Americans are piling on the pressure now, with several chances in the area.
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24th minute- The Americans with a little more productive possession but we’re still waiting for a serious scoring chance.
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19th minute- The referee is handing out yellow cards like he’s getting paid by the dozen.
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18th minute- Marvell Wynne with one of his trademark runs, and by trademark I mean when he beats two defenders who are amazed he doesn’t lose the ball only to lose the ball to the third defender.
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14th minute- Marvell Wynne with a clumsy challenge, giving Panama a dangerous free kick.
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12th minute- By the way, the definition of a good ball whipped in is NOT a cross that is blocked two feet from the guy delivering it. That would be a crap cross.
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9th minute- Apparently the mini-mullet is the national haircut of Panama.
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8th minute- Wow, Panama just missed a clear header on goal. USA dodged one there.
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7th minute- Still waiting for the U.S. to come out flying. Okay, so it isn’t happening. I’ll settled for organized.
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PRE-GAME- Yes, this is essentially a must-win game for the U.S. national team. Now that Honduras has two wins and six points, the Americans must get three points tonight to still have a chance at first place in the group.
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PRE-GAME- FSC is showing the US lining up in this formation:
——————-Altidore——————
———Gaven————-Adu—————-
——Holde—–Kljestan—McCarty———–
Sturgis——-Edu—–Orozco———Wynne
——————Seitz————————-
Finally some good coaching job… Zizzo in….Gaven out..
reading on Ives’s comments the last 15 minutes it seems like im not the only one Christian Miles is pissing off? and he called eddie gaven ( who still falls down alot, even though we love him in metroland ) stuart holden 3 times as i write this
I think he gave Freddy a wet willy…
‘Stotle, he’s using Edu’s correct pronunciation for both players, i.e. Freddy Uh-doo vs. Maurice Ay-doo.
P.S. sorry if I accidentally double post, this web site is freaking out on my end. The blog itself rules but TypePad is awful.
I think he gave Freddy a wet willy…
If the U.S. played exactly like Panama is playing now, they would be down to 5 players by now.
Paging Fernando Torres… 4-5-1 in need of your help.
Why don’t they just shoot Freddy? I don’t think the ref would even issue a card.
Holden is sticking out like a sore thumb! Are there any more of him?
Wow. I reserved judgement after the Cuba match, but I have to say I’m not at all impressed with what I’m seeing. It’s another poor performance from the US with the only saving grace that Panama is even more pathetic.
Why are they playing so slowly? taking so many touches on the ball? why do our players appear to have little clue to where they’re moving the ball when they receive it? Its like they look up to pass the ball only when they get it rather than before they get it.
This is one of the most uncoordinated games I’ve seen with players that are supposed to be close to our best at their age.
4-5-1? Puke.
you can buy perfect push-up at GNC, i think you need it
I’m not sure about Maurice’s name pronunciation, but if it is the same, the announcer should just do what they do when two players have the same last name. Use the first name as well.
i agree with ives gaven is having a great game. his passes have been good and he gave the pass for the penalty. its good that he’s finally playing how he should.
i agree with ives gaven is having a great game. his passes have been good and he gave the pass for the penalty. its good that he’s finally playing how he should.
Does anyone know why Nowak has always insisted on putting Adu out wide? In the first half of last game, he had 3 great chances to score, then was moved out wide and disappeared. Tonight, he started out wide and hasn’t been a huge factor except for in free kicks where he is absolutely amazing. I don’t get it.
Yo holmes you can buy the perfect push-up at Wal-Mart
im so confused between the AEdu family im pulling my hair out
I really like Orozco, but I’m afraid I don’t know much about his back story. Has he been a US youth player? How’d he get the call up? Usually Wikipedia has a good entry, but not much on him.
Hey guys, I really hate to say this because the Fox announcers really are clowns, but they are right in pronouncing Freddy Adu’s name as ay-doo.
Ives, as I said two nights ago, Dax looks much more like Bobby Budnick from Salute Your Shorts. I swear, it’s uncanny. I miss Donkey Lips.
Ives, as I said two nights ago, Dax looks much more like Bobby Budnick from Salute Your Shorts. I swear, it’s uncanny. I miss Donkey Lips.
The USA is technically inferior to Panama. That is very clear. The only US players showing skill on the ball are Adu, Klejstan and Gaven. Unfortunately, not one of them are interested in getting stuck in a tackle. Especially not Adu or Gaven.
Panama have been sitting back with 10 players, but if the US can keep their composure, they should be able to expose Panama when the game opens up. Gaven and Adu should create plenty of chances if given space to run, it’s up to Jozy to finish them, and I sure hope he’s up for it. He doesn’t seem himself.
Y’all better not say anything mean to me. I’m ordering the Perfect Push-up. I’ll be ripped it no time! It was designed by a Navy Seal!
kljestan has turned the ball over in our half far too much for my liking. i’d rather bring on a center back for him and put edu in his role in the 2nd half
first half so much better than last time… I’ve never liked McCarty, but he is a steadying force in the middle on the ball, just wish he was a little bit faster and bigger… Altidore has not looked good either game, his second touch on the break away was not good (although it was difficult w/ a defend right on his back), and he was lucky the keeper took him down…Wynne is very good, and w/ a little more seasoning and refinement of skills, he may be our right back of the future, look out cherundolo
I would watch the game on ESPN Deportes. But when I did on Tues., U.S. draws with a disappointing. So…..being superstitious that I am….watching the match on FSC.
Braden: I thought your comment was dead on.
Chase:
I didn’t say it was bad, it WAS smart. It was just an observation.
Ives, its not just you. They are chippy. I don’t understand why. They’re only down 1 goal and need to keep everyone on the field to have a chance of tying the game.
Anyone else worried about Wynne. He’s carrying a yellow and seemed WAY too eager to mix it up following the foul on Seitz. I’m very worried about him being sent off in the second half
kpugs, if I were Canadian my comments would be passive-aggressive. I guess that leaves Mexican?!?! Maybe I’m just a realist. It was a pretty soft penalty.
Other than Adu can anyone dribble past his man? Watch the game on ESPN Deportes. I don’t speak Spanish but it is still better than the 2 idiots on FSC.
So what if Altidore made it easier for the keeper to take him down? It was a smart play, especially after taking such a heavy touch on the initial pass..
Panama is getting pretty rough here, that was some cheap stuff on Seitz, my money is on someone getting sent off by the end of this one
The last man rule will only apply for Panama!
Anyone besides me email Chris Miles yet? Get on that guys.
jozy needs to be more under control with the ball there, but anyway, damn…their GK may as well have stood on the 6yd line for the PK.
Braden, are you Canadian? Mexican? Or just a pessimist?
i mean dax. he is rubbish. Wynne is close
What part of “last defender back” does this ref not understand? Panama should be putting a new GK on.
This guy with his Edu/Adu pronunciations..
He’s lucky the keeper brought him down. His touch took the ball well to the right of goal and he probably wouldn’t have been able to finish the goal.
Did Josy actually leave his feet low to get caught by the goalkeeper? Maybe it just seemed that way on the replay.
gax is rubbish. nuff said
well it sounds like maurice EDU just scored…
“AH-DOO!” Dammnit! GOL! Gracias.
And of course, NO FRIGGING RED CARD. OF COURSE.
Good job Jozy. Though I’d like to see you pull the trigger. !PENAL! !PENAL! !PENAL!
Sacha is starting to get pretty funny with his heading. He can’t even seem to make contact with the ball anymore. In the last game he hit the defender with his head.
It almost seems pointless to act surprised at the “bad” officiating anymore. I would say at least 80% of the time any U.S. team plays the officiating is “bad”. It’s a pretty big handicap sometimes, and must get old after a while if your a U.S. player.
cmiles@foxsportsworld.com
Let’s all email him and tell him Adu and Edu are, in fact, two different names and beg him to stop trying to pronounce non-English words.