| AP |
 |
| The United States won its third Gold Cup |
 |
|
|
24/JUL/2005 -The match went to a shootout after neither team could muster a
score through 90 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute overtime periods.
The United States, now ranked 6th in the world by FIFA, had been favored to
reach the finals, while Panama, a long-shot to qualify for the 2006 World Cup
finals, proved to be the surprise side of the 12-team tournament.
Panama reached the finals by knocking off South Africa on penalty kicks, as
all five Panamanians found the net. Against the United States, however, only
Felipe Baloy would manage to score.
Luis Tejada's opening shot was stopped by veteran U.S. keeper Kasey Keller,
while Jorge Dely Valdes struck the crossbar on the following kick and Alberto
Blanco's shot soared high.
The door opened briefly for Panama when Chris Armas missed the third U.S. kick
and Baloy scored on the Central Americans' ensuing chance to cut the U.S. lead
to 2-1.
Brad Davis' goal proved to be the winner after Blanco missed badly on the following
shot. Santino Quaranta and Landon Donovan also scored for the United States.
The U.S. side had the first scoring opportunity in the 23rd minute on a strong
shot by John O'Brien from within the box that was stopped by Panamanian keeper
Jaime Penedo, who gave Panama outstanding play throughout the tournament.
The U.S. had several good chances in the first half but shots by DaMarcus Beasley
and Clint Dempsey were either off target or stopped by Penedo.
Panama nearly grabbed the lead before the half but defender Jose Anthony Torres'
shot passed just over the crossbar after Keller had fallen to the ground.
The second half belonged to Panama and Luis Tejada, whose bicycle kick in the
52nd minute forced Keller to make a great stop.
Panama had several excellent opportunities in the second half as Dely Valdes
and Tejada easily ran past a sluggish U.S. midfield.
In the 75th minute Dely Valdes caught a pass from Angel Luis Rodriguez with
his chest and, after dropping to ball to his left foot, fired on goal only to
see his shot strike the crossbar.
As the United States began to play with greater urgency Quaranta sent in a
crossing pass that skidded between Penedo's legs but was just beyond the reach
of Dempsey in the 80th minute.
In the overtime periods Dely Valdes and Blanco each had clear chances to score
golden goals.
Miller Lite Man of the Match: Jaime Penedo (Panama)
Lineups:
0. United States: Kasey Keller, Jimmy Conrad, Frank Hejduk, Greg Vanney, Oguchi
Onyewu; John O'Brien, DaMarcus Beasley (Ben Olsen, 114th min.), Clint Dempsey
(Brad Davis, 80th min.), Chris Armas; Landon Donovan and Josh Wolff (Santino
Quaranta, 62nd min.).
0. Panama: Jaime Penedo, Carlos Rivera, Luis Moreno, Jose Anthony Torres, Felipe
Baloy; Alberto Blanco, Gabriel Gomez, Julio Medina (Luis Alfonso Henriquez,
87th min.), Engin Mitre (Angel Luis Rodriguez, 42nd min.); Jorge Luis Dely Valdes
and Luis Tejada.
|
