Photo by Rick Osentoski/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s trend of inserting substitute players who make an impact continued vs. Panama, and this time it was Brad Davis who came off the bench and provided a spark.
Davis helped the Americans end World Cup qualifying with a victory on Tuesday night, delivering two assists in their dramatic 3-2 victory against Panama at Estadio Rommel Fernandez. Davis hit the corner kick that Michael Orozco turned into the U.S.’s first equalizer and the veteran midfielder also whipped in the beautiful cross that Graham Zusi thundered home for another tying goal in the 92nd minute, timely contributions in a 34-minute performance that made Davis SBI’s choice for the Man of the Match award.
Honorable mention for the honors in a game in which no U.S. player was all that impressive from start to finish went to Zusi and substitute Aron Johannsson. Zusi was active on both sides of the ball even before he netted late with a great header that broke Panamanian hearts everywhere, and Johannsson showed well in his cameo before hitting the classy winner just seconds before the final whistle.
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What do you think of Davis winning SBI’s USMNT Man of the Match award? Impressed with his substitute performance vs. Panama? Should the honors have gone to someone else?
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