Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By IVES GALARCEP
When the U.S. Men’s National Team takes on Panama in Sunday’s CONCACAF Gold Cup Final, it will mark the fifth straight Gold Cup these two teams have met in the knockout rounds of the tournament.
It will also mark the first time these teams will be meeting in a Gold Cup final since 2005, when the U.S. and Panama engaged in a fierce battle at the old Giants Stadium in New Jersey. A match that went down to penalty kicks after a scoreless regulation and overtime.
Kasey Keller was the star for the U.S. team that day, keeping the clean sheet and saving Panama’s first penalty to set the tone for a terrible run of PKs for the Canaleros. Young Brad Davis score the winning penalty for the Americans to give them the first of what would be two straight Gold Cup titles.
In case you missed the drama of that day, here is the penalty kick round from the 2005 final, which features several people who will be on hand in Soldier Field on Sunday when the Americans face Panama again:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8FisET_s8w]
What did you think of this video? Surprised by some of the players involved? Does that seem like more than eight years ago?
Share your thoughts below.