Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. national team's 2-1 overtime victory over Panama in Saturday's Gold Cup quarterfinal wasn't the prettiest game ever played, but it had its share of drama and a great response from a U.S. team that was facing elimination after heading into halftime down a goal.
Kyle Beckerman's equalizer and Kenny Cooper's penalty provided the difference against a physical Panama team that looked poised for an upset before eventually being worn down by a result American team.
Some notes on the match. Jimmy Conrad was taken to a local Philadelphia hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion and released. No word yet on his availability vs. Honduras in the Gold Cup semifinal on Thursday. Also, there was some question about why Blas Perez didn't receive a second yellow card for removing his jersey after scoring Panama's goal. Video replays of the celebration show that Perez actually had his jersey pulled off by celebrating Panamanian fans. Luckily for Perez, referee Armando Archundia was watching the proceedings.
I will provide a closer look at the game on Monday. For now, here are the video highlights of the match:
Share your thoughts on last night's USA victory in the comments section below.
i’d like to see a side by side replay of Bradley’s red vs. Spain and panama’s yellow on Cooper…just for pure humor
I thought Archundia was put into a no win situation yesterday! CONCACAF is confounding to say the least!
If he had made a mistake in favor of the US, everyone would’ve jumped to conclusions about how it was to Mexico’s advantage not to have the US around to worry about. If he would have favored Panama, everyone would have said that the reason was because of what happened in their last game against Mexico!
Archundia is as good a ref as anyone, and has bad days too! Anyway my personal opinion is that he should have not been picked to officiate that game. Glad everything turned out OK!
To think that UEFA refs are the solution, I wouldn’t be too sure!
Medina Cantalejo, who seems to officiate every game in Europe everytime I turn the T.V. on, had a disastrous performance in the WC, when he gave Italy a penalty against Australia that clearly never existed, probably affecting the whole tournament. Or how about that Chelsea/Barca ref? And there are examples like that everyday, all over the world.
That was a rough injury for Jimmy Conrad…It looked career threatening. I hope he can recover…
Did anyone else hear in the pregame that the buffoon who lost complete control of that Mexico/Panama game is going to be the ref for US/Mexico at Azteca?
Is there a betting line yet on which US player gets a red card?
Posted by: EA | July 19, 2009 at 04:35 PM
Easy. Mike Bradley will get sent off. Regardless of what he does.
$1.6billion spend and the new Dallas Stadium is not even wide enough to play World Cup Game. It less than 74-75 yards wide. NFL team owners hate soccer.
You can say what you will about Archundia’s officiating career, and all the great games he’s called.
But when you allow a player to pick a ball up, run five yards with it under his arm, set it back down and play it, WITHOUT blowing the whistle, you’re doing something wrong.
The display after the game by Panama shows how much they contributed to the mess in Reliant last week.
Did anyone else hear in the pregame that the buffoon who lost complete control of that Mexico/Panama game is going to be the ref for US/Mexico at Azteca?
Is there a betting line yet on which US player gets a red card?
Many of you need to go and read the Laws of the Game for the first time. Just cause you shielding a ball doesn’t mean that you aren’t committing a foul. Fouls are given if the play could have resulted in injury.
No ref is perfect, ever. Fifa will not allow replays and I hope they keep it like that. Last thing I need is for a game to be interrupted at every draw of a card or foul near the box. And have you morons talk about dirty it is of Panama/El Salvador for taking their time out/challenge flag right has Donovan hits it in for a goal.
Estoy de acuerdo Chim. Lloran como los mexicanos van a llorar en el 12 de Agosto despues ganamos los EEUU en el taso que es estadio azteca. Son mejor, los panamenos, que fueron ayer.
Sweet Bike Kick goal for Costa Rica in the 3rd minute
Que maricones que son los jugadores de panama. Lloroncitos de mierda que jamas podrian jugar al nivel mundial por que no saben perder con dignidad, y claro que perderian muchisimo jugando contra paises que no son mierda como ellos.
I was at the game right in the middle of the DVI and I without a doubt the referee called an absurdly biased game. We should have had a penalty in the first half when Conrad was destroyed, and we should have had another in the second when Ching was literally arm tackled in the box going after a long ball. The referee simply could not let Panama off the hook, and it should have been a straight red (it would have been had it been Michael Bradley lets be honest). I think CONCACAF needs to bring in UEFA refs for USA games simply because of regional biases… otherwise our players will end up in the hospital.
But the determination and work ethic of the team was great. Ching was everywhere, even covering for the defensive backs late in overtime on a couple of occasions.
I just want someones opinion on this, that knows what they are talking about.
If you have watched every International Game that Stuart Holden has played in… Has he once had a terrible game, and im talking overall play during the whole game, not 1 or 2 stupid mistakes when it came to the Olympics/penalty’s, I’m talking overall solid play.
When it comes to someone having an awful performance throughout an entire game like Sasha and maybe Rogers have had(among many others that are not in talks for being in discussion for 2010).
I just don’t see that from Holden. He is the definition of solid/consistent and I can only see him getting better.
If he came off the bench in the WC, I would have confidence in him being solid, not magnificent, but what we need is SOLID and CONSISTENCY players coming off the bench.
Why is this? Because a bad sub (the ones against Brazil) can lose games.
I love the upside Rogers has. He will become an excellent player.
C squad, d squad…who cares? Our pool of players is getting deeper and more experienced. The more players to challenge for pt the better. Someone has to push Dempsey to be better… all of the 1st squad guys need to be pushed. This is how that happens. It was pointed out yesterday in the postgame that Bradley has played some 80 different guys in international competition in his 3+ years. I love that and didn’t really realize it to be the case.
Ives, as a former college and high school umpire for baseball, I changed my mind more than once in my JUDGEMENT of a play and wasn’t afraid to make the change in the spirit of “getting the play correct”. Early in the MLS season the referee consulted with side judge and changed his ruling. I was so impressed by that. I wonder why FIFA doesn’t encourage more of that? The Panamanian’s Red Card vs Osorio, in my opinion should have been reversed, for example.
Shouldnt we be raising a huge stink about no card for the head but that gave our player a concussion and no red for the cleats to the stomache in the box???????? What the heck???
Those both would’ve been straight reds for USA in the Confederations Cup. We need to demand fair calls and safety for our players.
kpugs,
7 years ago Beckerman was 20 and had just signed with the Miami Fusion. I doubt he was on the USMNT radar (and you can’t blame that on Bradley).
Isn’t it great that our two Rastaman players, Kyle and Frankie, have turned out so good. I know Frankie has a bad first touch and can’t cross a ball to save his life but you can’t beat his heart and his fighting spirit.
I think he should have gotten the yellow card for having his shirt removed,
we don’t want to get in a mode where players have a designated shirt remover for their goals,
the player has to be responsible and he doesn’t have to run over to the fans after his goal,
I believe it is officially wrong to run off the field, but they let that go in the spirit of the moment,
but I don’t think they should let go innovative ways to get around the rules,
that is unsporting behavior and deserves a yellow card
Arnaud was the best player on the field, creativity and dangerous attack pretty much stop when he came out. He was the key figure in the majority of good scoring chances.
Yeah, but this is our kindergraten team. Seriously. There really isn’t a single spot on the field where a guy starting last night is first choice. Go ahead and argue for Ching, I politely disagree. there are a few guys that played last night who may have rounded themselves into a second choice — I might put Holden and Marshall there — but most of those guys were, at best, third choice for their position. Many aren’t real choices at all — Pause, Arnaud, etc. So I don’t think it’s cover for when we lose — or an insult to the guys playing — but just what happens when you have good players fighting for club spots with overseas teams and other good player who just finished another grueling tournament. you roll out the C+ team.
I dont know why fouls even exist if the one that Conrad received isnt called one. Late, to the head, and a headbut; 3 things which can get you thrown out, but in this case not a foul is called. A complete joke, a late head butt to the temple can seriously hurt someone for life, can cause much worse things than even the worse cleats up late tackles. The ref and FIFA are a joke for allowing this and whats worse is it was a foul on a attempt on goal. Guess FIFA would rather have brain damaged players than ones with hurt ankles.
It’s sort of odd the way Rogers is now. During the Olympics he lack the discipline to get back and defend but had the confidence to take players on, even though most of the time it led to nothing. As Ives said that one time against Japan:
“You’d think Robbie Rogers was a rabbai with the lack we’ve had from that left side”
This time around it’s vice-versa. Rogers has the pace and the skill; he’s just missing the confidence that we saw at the Olympics and against Grenada. Once he finds that, We’ll be ready for the final.
It’s really annoying hearing everyone call the national team a C- F+ ect team, these guys are the best available at the moment have some respect. They are doing what they are suppose to be doing and that winning games; it just bothers me that all of here have to resort to belittle them and saying, oh this is our kindergarten team, so if we lose we have an excuse.
Could someone point me where I can watch the guadeloupe costa rica game online?
http://www.channelsurfing.net/
Enjoy!
I don’t have a problem with the Panamanian style of play, nor do I have a problem allowing the game to be physical, but I do have a problem with calling phantom fouls against attacking players when defenders jump on their backs to challenge for a ball. Nothing was more hilarious to me than seeing Brian Ching get called for foul after foul just for standing there while a defender attempted to mount him.
Also, someone needs to tell the ref and his assistant that an attacker is allowed to use his body to shield his defender from the ball. Arnaud got called for 4 or 5 fouls for what basically amounted to good post-up play to control the ball.
In the end though, the ref got control of the game and got the most crucial call right. Accidental or not, when you fly recklessly into the box and meet an attacker with your foot 4 feet off the ground and spikes up, you’re begging for a penalty. Justice was served and that is all that matters.
I was happy to see Panama so upset to lose though. Having teams care that much about an off-year tournament that means virtually nothing on the world stage is only good for us. This was their world cup. They gave us their best shot, and our domestic league heavy C-team was able to pull out a gritty victory.
Panama has improved a lot in the past 4 years, in my opinion. Having said that, Blas Perez will never fulfill his potential as long as he is wasting half his concentration on kicking his opponents, immediately diving, and then asking the ref for a card. It is so obvious how good he can be based on his ability. And yet he feels the need to cheat, dive, and try to injure other players, all while constantly playing to the referee. I thought the other teams in CONCACAF were slowly (but surely) gravitating away from this type of soccer (which peaked, oddly, in the 2005 gold cup final, when the Panamanians were repeatedly stretchered off the pitch only to pop up and sprint to midfield). I give a ton of credit to Panama–minus the pathetic Blas Perez.
Other than that, well done from the U.S. C-team. Our biggest strength is our massive player pool–our biggest weakness is lack of quality depth. We are clearly improving on that.
Finally, kudos to Kyle Beckerman. I have said some horrible things to him at MLS games, but he is finally fulfilling his potential for the U.S. If he had been this consistent 7 years ago he might be a stalwart for the nats by now. But I’m glad to see him playing well (for his country–I will still make fun of his hair loudly at MLS games).
Random Thoughts:
– Someone wrote on here that Perkins = Ross, and last night I was laughing on every close-up.
– When US was owning possession in the second half and OT, Panama looked really tired. In a close game it’s good to know your side is conditioned to play a full game.
– Beckerman’s hair is awesome. Looks cool like the Predator, easier to see on a non-HD broadcast, and shakes the opponents who are saying “I’m getting schooled by a white rasta phishfan pothead?” And they can’t get tough with him because he’ll be like “peace, dude”.
– The forwards aren’t the best but that is a weak position for the US. Who would be better? (That wasn’t in Confeds Cup?) I think all three will get better with playing time, as they become more in sync with the other players. Mexico would be the hardest game, so if they beat Honduras I hope the offense is clicking somewhat by the final.
– Kenny Cooper = Cosmo Kramer. And when he’s running it’s like Kramer mixed with Jar Jar Binks. Beckerman took the Jar Jar hair.
Is it just me or does Rogers play completely vertical, always forcing himself to play up the sideline. He almost never slashed into the middle of the field, Especially when he had the ball…
I think this makes his game extremely predictable, and therefore negates a lot of his speed and skill. Hopefully this is something that he will learn as he gains more international experience, b/c i think the tools he has are just as impressive as Holden, if not more so
Good, strong effort from the Nats. They showed quite a bit of character and resilience. Beckerman has been very impressive…it is too bad he plays the deepest position in our player pool.
I agree Jimmy. Panama wasn’t that dirty. Most of their challenges in the air were 50-50 balls that they ended up winning most of the game anyway. Dirty play would consist of people throwing elbows like De Rossi and that’s not what we saw. Wish I had a box of Kleenexs for you, Marc, but hey, this sort of “football” is played all over the world and by the way, not every ref is going to give the US the benefit of the call each and every game. Just deal with it. DO you actually expect infereior opponents in Concacaf to just roll over and die against us? I’m pretty sure they REALLY wanted to win that game.
Could someone point me where I can watch the guadeloupe costa rica game online?
Rogers does have speed, but he has almost zero one on one ability. Most of his crosses went straight into his man. Definitely not a good game for him.
Holden looked class, consistently.
Panama are thugs. Agree with the guy who said it took a whole half (i’d argue, longer) to figure that out and start playing tougher. IMO, the ref did more than ‘let the play’. He encouraged Panama to be out of control and rough. Letting go ticky-tack fouls is one thing. Turning a blind eye to thuggery is another. FIFA/CONCACAF needs to address the conduct of the Panamanian team after the game.
What was Panama coach Gary Stempel yelling at the ref about after the game? Surely it wasn’t the penalty? B/c if that’s the case he needs to watch the video of cleats to the groin and ask himself if that would be a penalty on the other side of the ball(s).
If anyone thinks Panama were exceptionally dirty, think again. The difference between Panama and teams that the US may well meet in the World Cup (Italy? Argentina?) is that Panama doesn’t have the skill to take advantage of their “physical” assault. The USMNT also plays very “physical” ( See Brad Evans trying to undress Perez near the end of the game). Overall, it is good the US learns how to handle this sort of play.
TomR Rogers also on 5 corners. Did Holden complete any crosses? I think Holden won 1 corner and of course cost the US a goal.
Look at it another way. Pearce was able to push up on offense in the second 45 because he knew Rogers could cover the defense.
I thnk the frutsration is that Rogers has the ability to be great, but its not there every game. This game the defender has his number. It happens to all players. When that happens good players find other ways to he;p the team.
Here: Robbie won at least 5 corners, completed the cross that tied the game, played perfect defense, allowed his defender to move into the offense.
Really cannot ask for more on a night like that with a tough physical defender on a really tight field.
I have a feeling we may see Jozy, Rico and/or Sasha for the next game?
Ives – You mean “resolute American team” not “result American team” in the last line of the 2nd paragraph!
I thought Rogers looked decent. Not great but decent. Completed several of his crosses and played well defensively. This allowed Pearce to push up offensively (no way Pearce can do that if he has insecurity on defense because Bradley stresses a defense first metality). That in turn helped turn the team around the second 45.
Also, credit Rogers for the cross that resulted in the first goal.
I said this before but I was really impressed with the large stretches of the game – 2nd half and OT where the US put together a nice possesion game, stringing together pass after pass against a physical team like Panama. These are MLS players. If play in MLS was that attractive I think some of the Euro snobs might jump on board. I guess we are getting closer – maybe less players from CONCA-Hack and more players from the US will give us a more attractive style…case and point being our CC team and now this GC team. I think if the college system keeps turning out players like they did in the last draft coupled with further development of the academy system, this will be more and more the case.
The sleeping giant is awake, a little groggy still but his coffee is brewing and it won’t be much longer (just ask Mexico – lol)
Good fight by the boys to come through. Hope Conrad recovers quickly – that was a scary knock, and I was frightened for his long-term well-being after seeing him wobble around afterward. Feel better soon, Jimmy.
I thought there was some Ref bias, but in fact he made the important calls fairly. The US often faces ref bias and needs to play through it. I thought the players did that well last night.
Also, our central defenders were strong in the air, but their headers almost always went to Panama. That is one area they need to improve on. Our flow out of the back would have been far better.
No wonder we get three red cards in an international tournament when you play football like this in Concacaf…At the Confederations Cup Panama would have been playing with 8 men when it was all said and done.
Archundia is a “world class” ref who officiates a world cup semi-final, then is in charge of this mess…
Yikes, I think that needs to be addressed.
I wish I spoke Spanish. So much better on the ears. GOOOOOOOLLLLAZOOOO is so much better than YEEEEEEEEES.
Some thoughts…
Archundia had a frustrating and maybe shady game, in my opinion. I guess He made up for it with the penalty call, as clear as it was.
So just to clarify things, if you take off your own shirt you get a yellow, but if someone else takes it off you don’t? That seems like a tough one for Archundia, I guess he handled it well…(the Panama fan section were really helping their team out on that one).
Beckerman really finished that goal off well…and what an awesome heartfelt celebration. That guy has his sloppy moments, buy his work-rate is admirable.
Also, Ives, would you mind updating us on Conrad as soon as you find out his status. Marshall and Conrad combination seems a formidable partnership…
Mr. Kenneth Cooper has laid down the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved nation:
His balls.
Godspeed Kenny.
One of the worst concussions, I have seen in all of the years I have followed football…..this is the sort of thing the US Federation needs to file an official protest with FIFA over….just my opinion, but Perez never played the ball and should have been sent off for it….teams like Panama who play this sort of “football” need to be stopped….as Max Bretos stated so well last night “someone needs to tell them (Panama) they are not playing American Football”…..and this ref needs to face some sort of ban too for allowing this to go on…..(another example is the studs up into Cooper’s stomach should have been a straight red)…..the ref paid the price with Panama at games end when they turned on him after he had pretty much looked the other way as they cheap-shoted the USA time after time….thank God Jimmy is OK….
Rogers was bad – he was completely taken out of the game by a more physical player. It’s embarrassing when you are repeatedly just shouldered off the ball by the defender for a turnover.
The Panamianian goal was a cockup by multiple US players. First, Clarence Goodson lost his man in the box (although I somewhat give him a pass since he was just inserted into the game seconds earlier). Second, Marshall played a bad ball. Third, Holden was hesitant about what to do and didn’t close out on the Panamanian player. And fourth, Logan Pause was supposed to be on the post – where he potentially could have gotten in front of the shot – but drifted over into the center of the goal almost directly behind the keeper, making him useless. Four US semi-mistakes adding up to one Panamanian goal.
I thought the referee was pretty good – he was allowing them to play a physical game, which was fine once the US players figured that out. Of course, it took the US a whole half to figure it out. But I appreciated it.
I meant second yellow.
The fan takes Perez’s Jersey off and Perez and Torres gets angry. That’s pretty funny. If he would have received a second red card for that, the Panamanian team would have complained that the fan pulled it off, and there would have been pandemonium. Great win by our C team.
I know that these are Concacaf Minnows and B squads but you gotta love the confidence this team is playing with and how we are actually scoring from the run of play.
arnaud killed it last night!
Well done overall. Only really blip was Rogers. Max Bretos hit the nail on the head last night saying it seems like the only thing that’s holding Rogers back is himself. He didn’t seem willing to take any of the players on last night. He put in some good defensive work but not too much offensively.