USA-Panama, World Cup Qualifying (Result)

[Ultra Peanut]

http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=182973

U.S. Tops Panama 3-0 in Panama City in World Cup Qualifier
6/8/05 10:24 PM

PANAMA CITY, Panama (June 8, 2005) — The U.S. Men’s National Team recorded a resounding 3-0 victory on Wednesday evening against Panama at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, further entrenching the team’s bid for a birth in the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006. The 3-0 win was the second of the week for the U.S. in World Cup qualifying and came courtesy of goals from Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan and Brian McBride.

The victory improves the U.S. to 4-1-0 halfway through qualifying, and places them in second place in their six-team group with 12 points, just one behind Mexico’s 13. With Mexico defeating Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 tonight at home, the gap between the U.S. and fourth place (the qualifying cutoff point) was widened to eight points after Costa Rica downed Guatemala, 3-2 at home.

“We are the first team in this cycle to beat Panama at home,” said U.S. Manager Bruce Arena immediately following the game. “As critical as we are sometimes of our performances, getting a result like that is exceptional. The first goal was big, the second goal was terrific, and then Kasey Keller once again was tremendous. In most game reports, that will go unnoticed, but those three saves were tremendous. Overall, we did what we had to do. The back line played very well and we scored opportunistic goals.”

[Rausch]

We've had a long history of clubbing the islanders and 3rd world countries and then sucking Yeti phallus when it comes time for real competition.

Where's Alexi Lalas when we need him?

http://www.psxa2z.com/gpgs/ss/BT0028/BT0028F.jpg

[Frankie]

We've had a long history of clubbing the islanders and 3rd world countries and then sucking Yeti phallus when it comes time for real competition.

Where's Alexi Lalas when we need him?

http://www.psxa2z.com/gpgs/ss/BT0028/BT0028F.jpg
You musta forgotten the last World Cup. Top 8 WC finish ain't too shabby. If not for terrible ref calls, the U.S. should have beaten Germany to advance to top 4.

[Rausch]

You musta forgotten the last World Cup. Top 8 WC finish ain't too shabby. If not for terrible ref calls, the U.S. should have beaten Germany to advance to top 4.

And that we only got there due to luck.

[Ultra Peanut]

We've had a long history of clubbing the islanders and 3rd world countries and then sucking Yeti phallus when it comes time for real competition.Not really. A 3-0 win on the road in qualifying, especially at this point, was pretty much unheard of even ten years ago. In Panama in front of 17,000 angry bus drivers (judging by all of the fricking horns), or St. Vincent/Grenadines in front of three zebras and a monkey.

And that we only got there due to luck.Thrashing Portugal (seeded as one of the top eight teams in the world), drawing with a host (who reached the semifinals), and suffering from some extremely poor luck in a loss to Poland while the host beat the aforementioned top-eight seed to help you advance is luck? Then smacking the Messycans around dos-cero and missing out on beating Germany by this much is all about "luck" and nothing else?

Thanks a lot, Hugh Dallas. Cock.

[Frankie]

And that we only got there due to luck.

How do you say that? :shrug:

[Rausch]

How do you say that? :shrug:

The ball bounced off an opposing defender.

Panamanian, I think.

[Ultra Peanut]

The ball bounced off an opposing defender.

Panamanian, I think.Yeah... botched clearance on the McBride goal to make it 3-0. The defenser sent it right to him off the inside of his heel and Bake drilled it home, but... WTF does that have to do with the 2002 World Cup? :spock:

[Frankie]

Not really. A 3-0 win on the road in qualifying, especially at this point, was pretty much unheard of even ten years ago. In Panama in front of 17,000 angry bus drivers (judging by all of the fricking horns), or St. Vincent/Grenadines in front of three zebras and a monkey.

Thrashing Portugal (seeded as one of the top eight teams in the world), drawing with a host (who reached the semifinals), and suffering from some extremely poor luck in a loss to Poland while the host beat the aforementioned top-eight seed to help you advance is luck? Then smacking the Messycans around dos-cero and missing out on beating Germany by this much is all about "luck" and nothing else?

Thanks a lot, Hugh Dallas. Cock.

That pic shows a penalty that the ref did NOT award to the U.S.

[Frankie]

The ball bounced off an opposing defender.

Panamanian, I think.
Old Soccer saying : "The ball is round."

[Ultra Peanut]

By the way, the second goal was just GORGEOUS. About six passes, weaving back and forth through the Panamanian defense, leading up to a sweet little ball out on the right flank to Ralston. Ralston sent in a beautiful cross on the first touch and Benedict placed the header perfectly. Gonzalez had no shot.

That pic shows a penalty that the ref did NOT award to the U.S.In Dallas' defense, he was probably afraid of being put in the Torture Rack by Oliver Kahn.

<img src="http://www.ftd.de/asset/Image/2005/04/11/kahn_gr.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 415px; border: 0" alt="" />

[Rausch]

Yeah... botched clearance on the McBride goal to make it 3-0. The defenser sent it right to him off the inside of his heel and Bake drilled it home, but... WTF does that have to do with the 2002 World Cup? :spock:

Not this game.

4 years ago....

[Frankie]

In Dallas' defense, he was probably afraid of being put in the Torture Rack by Oliver Kahn.

<img src="http://www.ftd.de/asset/Image/2005/04/11/kahn_gr.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 415px; border: 0" alt="" />
ROFL
Kahn is one gestapo looking dude!

[Rausch]

By the way, the second goal was just GORGEOUS. About six passes, weaving back and forth through the Panamanian defense, leading up to a sweet little ball out on the right flank to Ralston. Ralston sent in a beautiful cross on the first touch and Benedict placed the header perfectly. Gonzalez had no shot.

In Dallas' defense, he was probably afraid of being put in the Torture Rack by Oliver Kahn.

<img src="http://www.ftd.de/asset/Image/2005/04/11/kahn_gr.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 415px; border: 0" alt="" />

BTW, thanks for not supporting my qualifier thread bidge...It might have been the most painful and failed Official Game Thread EVAR!

[Rausch]

ROFL
Kahn is one gestapo looking dude!

I plead the 5th.

BTW, I got to play with Pat McBride (who's dad coached St.Louis' quickly failed arena league soccer team) and went to said pappy's soccer camp 2 years in St. Louis at some women's college. Can't remember the name now.

Also the first time I got to just ruin someone...

[Ultra Peanut]

Not this game.

4 years ago....Ahhh! The atmosphere!

Now I geddit.

BTW, thanks for not supporting my qualifier thread bidge...It might have been the most painful and failed Official Game Thread EVAR!Where the hell was it? I looked high and low... well, okay, I looked a little bit.

[Ultra Peanut]

defenserHeh. That should be a word.

[Rausch]

Heh. That should be a word.

I'm still not understanding your lack of Lalas love.

Once he left KC I quit caring about the whiz......wait, that didn't come out right.

I mean he's what got me excited about...oh that sounded bad too. I meant to say after he left the same excitement.....nevermind.

[Ultra Peanut]

I'm still not understanding your lack of Lalas love.Love gAlexi?! NEVER!

Go Quakes, and **** Benedict, except for when he scores for the US... which has been happening quite often lately. Imagine me cheering for him and flipping him the bird at the same time.

[Rausch]

Love gAlexi?! NEVER!

Go Quakes, and **** Benedict, except for when he scores for the US... which has been happening quite often lately. Imagine me cheering for him and flipping him the bird at the same time.

You are dead to me...

You should PH34R teh Lalas and teh P0W4R G04T!1!

Wait....WTF.....What the wasted wet Mary mother****!?!

http://sanjose.earthquakes.mlsnet.com/imgs/bios/photos/lalas_a.jpg

[Ultra Peanut]

And I just gave you rep for being ONE COOL DUDE... :sulk:

[Rausch]

And I just gave you rep for being ONE COOL DUDE... :sulk:

Why didn't you tell me!?!

Why didn't you tell me he went Wall Street!?! :cuss:

[Rausch]

OMG! He looks like that silly sissy douchebag from 28 days later!

DEAR GOD NOOOOOOOoooooooooo!

[Ultra Peanut]

Who? Shay Given?

28 Days Later was fun.

[Rausch]

Who? Shay Given?

28 Days Later was fun.

And apparently a good payday for Lalas after the Italians tired of him....

[Ultra Peanut]

I'll leave you with this:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=335204&cc=5901

[Pants]

By the way, the second goal was just GORGEOUS. About six passes, weaving back and forth through the Panamanian defense, leading up to a sweet little ball out on the right flank to Ralston. Ralston sent in a beautiful cross on the first touch and Benedict placed the header perfectly. Gonzalez had no shot.

In Dallas' defense, he was probably afraid of being put in the Torture Rack by Oliver Kahn.

Kahn is a bad ass mother ****er. He broke his thumb during the 2002 WCG final against f*cking Brazil and kept playing (he's a keeper, he HAS to USE his HANDS). Best goalkeeper in the wolrd, IMO.

[Rausch]

I'll leave you with this:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=335204&cc=5901

...

Prostitution is legal in Germany in designated areas

As ****ing twisted as that country has become they still somehow manage to kick azz...

[Ultra Peanut]

Best goalkeeper in the wolrd, IMO.<img src="http://www.progoalkeeper.co.uk/images/_40789531_cechjoy203.jpg" style="width: 203px; height: 152px; border: 0" alt="" />

:D

Speaking of keepers, that holyshitsave-holyshit-HOLYSHITWHATASAVE sequence by Keller around the 25th minute was unreal. He's gone something like 300 minutes in WCQs since giving up a goal (the last being the second goal at Azteca). Three consecutive shutouts.

[Ultra Peanut]

Panama at home in WCQ:

08-Jun-05 PAN:USA 0:3 (0:3)
30-Mar-05 PAN:MEX 1:1 (0:1)
09-Feb-05 PAN:GUA 0:0
17-Nov-04 PAN:SLV 3:0 (3:0)
09-Oct-04 PAN:JAM 1:1 (1:0)
08-Sep-04 PAN:USA 1:1 (0:0)
13-Jun-04 PAN:LCA 4:0 (3:0)

Too much negativity on these boards against a team that while not the greatest tactically, is big and fast and plays practically underwater.

DMB in the middle was the biggest weakness we had last night. He is not big enough to push people around and Panama was just as fast as him. Remember this when DMB is one of the fastest guys in the Eredivisie and his speed is still noticeable in the Champions League. Nevertheless he had a very dangerous chance that could have been goal #4.

Noonan also looked over his head. He was always a step behind. I didn't mind Heyduk last night. He played with confidence, backed up Noonan, and actually had a very nice cross.

Very glad to see the US step it up in the 2nd half defensively. They constantly intercepted passes for the Panama forwards. Nice to see that pressure at a time we usually relax.

McBride was great. Glad his hard work paid off with a goal. Convey was a step up from Noonan. Dempsey at least gave us a physical presence in the middle. Berhalter's free kick was pinpoint perfect.

One last thought to all you US doubters. Did you notice when Panama's first sub came on he not only took off his substitute's pinny, but a long sleeved jacket as well? How hot was it and this guy was wearing a jacket?

To chime in on the Panama discussion, while they are clearly the weakest team in the Hex, historically and currently, they are extremely difficult to play in Panama. You could bring any team there, and more often than not, they'd lose, draw, or find themselves in a surprisingly difficult game.

I'll continue to say that the Hex is much weaker this time around. The third best team, in my opinion, was Jamaica and they played poorly enough to get knocked out. Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago are both teams in transition, holding on to aging veterans while trying to determine which of their younger players is WC-level. Guatemala is spunky, but over-matched against most teams in the group.

What does this mean for the US? Quite simply, we're getting the job done. We're winning our home games, stealing points on the road, and the scores and games indicate that we're not simply beating teams that have quit or don't belong in the group, but that we're playing our game regardless of the opponent, the pitch condition, the game location, available players, etc....

Yes, right now, Mexico and the US are the class on CONCACAF. Costa Rica was a legitimate and dangerous WC team in '02, as was Jamaica in '98. The region has demonstrated their worth in getting a third team, and perhaps a fourth. The European arrogance about other regions is not based in fact, but an inflated view of their programs.

Someone pointed that out that taking advantage of mistakes is key. We did that to Panama and Costa Rica. Beautiful. My only concern is that against peer or superior teams, we've made mistakes that've cost us. This is the learning curve for the next 12 months, and given our progress, I'm quite confident that we'll maximize our chances in Germany.

Quite impressive to get 2 wins on the road by the turn. We're where we want to be at this point, with quality depth, an excellent system, key players playing well and leading, and young guys pushing the veterans for positions.

We're sending a message - 2002 was no fluke. Good teams take care of their business quickly and efficiently, and Mexico and the US are showing their class. But if I was Germany, Argentina, Portugal, etc..., I wouldn't be jumping for joy if I see a Costa Rica or Guatemala in my WC group. There's a lot of good football in CONCACAF, and the bids are more than deserved.....