Following the 3-1 win against Honduras in the semifinal, the U.S. moved one step away from capturing its fifth Gold Cup championship. Standing in the way is Panama, the team the USA faced in the 2005 Gold Cup final and needed penalties to defeat. Kickoff at Soldier Field in Chicago is set for 3 p.m. CT (4 p.m. ET), and the match will be broadcast live on FOX and Univision.
This is the fifth-consecutive Gold Cup in which the teams will meet in the knockout round. The U.S. is unbeaten in those contests, including two quarterfinal victories (2007, 2009) and a shutout win in the 2011 semifinal.
Panama reached the championship final by defeating Mexico for the second time in the tournament, and by the same 2-1 scoreline. Gabriel Torres has netted five goals for the Marea Roja and is tied for the scoring lead in the tournament with Landon Donovan and Chris Wondolowski.
TOP SIX NOTES
With the victory, the USA increased its record winning streak to 10 games, three more than its previous high of seven straight wins accomplished in 2007. The USA also improved to 11-2-2 in 2013.
The USA previously won the tournament in 1991, 2002, 2005 and 2007. With four runner-up finishes, the U.S. has now reached the championship game in nine of the 12 editions of the Gold Cup and will play in its fifth straight final
Landon Donovan has five goals and seven assists in the tournament. His 18 career goals are tops in CONCACAF, along with his appearance in a record six Gold Cups.
Along with its overall winning streak, the USA will have a chance to tie its U.S. home record winning streak of 10, which was set from June 15, 2008, through July 11, 2009.
With the World Cup less than a year away, the mix of veterans and younger players are hoping the Gold Cup will prove to be a launching point for a spot in World Cup Qualifying and ultimately Brazil in 2014. (From Gold Cup to World Cup?)
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Gold Cup Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Bill Hamid (D.C. United – 0/0), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire – 1/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake – 4/0)
DEFENDERS (8): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla – 21/6), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake – 1/0), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City – 2/0), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana – 1/0), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy – 0/0), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes – 14/3), Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla – 4/1), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg – 9/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake – 10/1), Alejandro Bedoya (Helsinborg – 8/1), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana – 4/2), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg – 5/1), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers – 9/3), Brek Shea (Stoke City – 5/1), Jose Torres (Tigres – 5/0)
FORWARDS (5): Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo – 0/0), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy – 33/18), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes – 0/0), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders – 5/3), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes – 8/5)
U.S. MNT 2013 RESULTS/SCHEDULE
Date
Opponent
Result/Time (ET)
U.S. goal scorers/TV
Venue
Jan. 29
Canada
0-0 T
–
BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas
Feb. 6
Honduras*
1-2 L
Dempsey
Estadio Olimpico; San Pedro Sula, Honduras
March 22
Costa Rica*
1-0 W
Dempsey
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colo.
March 26
Mexico*
0-0 T
–
Estadio Azteca; Mexico City, Mexico
May 29
Belgium
2-4 L
Cameron, Dempsey
FirstEnergy Stadium; Cleveland, Ohio
June 2
Germany
4-3 W
Altidore, Dempsey (2), own goal
RFK Stadium; Washington, D.C.
June 7
Jamaica*
2-1 W
Altidore, Evans
National Stadium; Kingston, Jamaica
June 11
Panama*
2-0 W
Altidore, E. Johnson
CenturyLink Field; Seattle, Wash.
June 18
Honduras*
1-0 W
Altidore
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
July 5
Guatemala
6-0 W
Gomez, Donovan (2), Wondolowski, Goodson, Bedoya
Qualcomm Stadium; San Diego, Calif.
July 9
Belize^
6-1 W
Wondolowski (3), Holden, Bedoya, Donovan
JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.
July 13
Cuba^
4-1 W
Donovan, Corona, Wondolowski (2)
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
July 16
Costa Rica^
1-0 W
Shea
Rentschler Field; East Hartford, Conn.
July 21
July 24
July 28
Sept. 6
El Salvador^
Honduras^
Panama^
Costa Rica*
5-1 W
3-1 W
4 p.m
8 p.m.
Goodson, Corona, Johnson, Donovan, Diskerud
Johnson, Donovan (2)
FOX, Univision
beIN SPORT
M&T Bank Stadium; Baltimore, Md.
Cowboys Stadium; Arlington, Texas
Soldier Field; Chicago
Estadio Nacional; San Jose, Costa Rica
Sept. 10
Mexico*
8 p.m.
ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMas
Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
Oct. 11
Jamaica*
TBD
ESPN network, WatchESPN, UniMas
Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.
Oct. 15
Panama*
TBD
beIN SPORT
Estadio Rommel Fernandez; Panama City, Panama
*2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
^2014 CONCACAF Gold Cup
TRADING PLACES: U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann made four changes to the 23-player 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster. Per tournament regulations, teams had the opportunity to make up to four changes to the roster in the 24 hours following the completion of the group phase.
Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Alan Gordon and Eddie Johnson have all been added to the U.S. roster. Besler, Gordon and Johnson reported to Baltimore on Thursday.
Two changes come as the result of injury concerns. Oguchi Onyewu suffered an ankle sprain during the USA’s 4-1 win against Belize on July 13 in Sandy, Utah. Herculez Gomez continues to feel the effects of a knee issue and will head to Club Tijuana to prepare for the upcoming season.
Also gone are Houston Dynamo defender and 2013 MLS All-Star Corey Ashe, and Jack McInerney, the 20-year-old Philadelphia Union forward who made his debut in a National Team camp.
BEASLEY NAMED GOLD CUP CAPTAIN: Klinsmann named three-time World Cup veteran DaMarcus Beasley as the U.S. captain for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Beasley has enjoyed a resurgence with the National Team after receiving his first call-up in seven months when he was added to the roster for the World Cup Qualifiers in March against Costa Rica and Mexico. Beasley had previously one the captain’s armband only once, in the USA’s 2-1 loss to Trinidad & Tobago on Oct. 15, 2008, in Port-of-Spain.
FROM USA-HONDURAS
Donovan now has 18 career Gold Cup goals, seven goals in 2013 to lead the team and increased his U.S. MNT career record to 56 goals.
Alejandro Bedoya’s two assists were the first two of his international career.
Team captain DaMarcus Beasley made his 108th career appearance, moving within two of sixth-place Carlos Bocanegra and Paul Caligiuri (110 caps each).
Nick Rimando became the fifth U.S. goalkeeper in the modern era to post five victories during a calendar year, improving to 5-0-0 in 2013. The other four goalkeepers to earn five or more wins in a year are: Tim Howard (five times), Kasey Keller (four times), Tony Meola (four times) and Troy Perkins (one time).
Jurgen Klinsmann made three starting lineup changes from the USA’s quarterfinal victory against El Salvador on July 21. Midfielders Stuart Holden and Alejandro Bedoya earned the start ahead of Mix Diskerud and Joe Corona, while forward Eddie Johnson got the call ahead of Chris Wondolowski to play up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Honduras.
The winner of the 2013 Gold Cup will qualify for a playoff against the winner of the 2015 tournament to determine the CONCACAF entrant in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
The U.S. moved to 14-4-3 all-time against Honduras and 11-2-2 against Honduras on U.S. soil.
Honduras is one of only two teams to have beaten the United States this year, along with Belgium. Honduras rallied for a 2-1 victory against the U.S. on Feb. 6 in San Pedro Sula. It was the teams’ first meeting in the Final Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying. Clint Dempsey had the USA’s lone goal to give his side a 1-0 lead.
Wednesday’s match marked the fourth time the U.S. and Honduras have met in the knockout phase of the Gold Cup. The United States downed Honduras in penalties after a scoreless draw to capture the inaugural championship in 1991. The USA earned 2-1 semifinal victories against Honduras in 2005 and 2009.
USA vs. PANAMA
The United States holds a 9-1-2 lifetime record against Panama, including an 8-1-1 record on U.S. soil.
A total of 11 of the 12 meetings between the two teams have come in either the CONCACAF Gold Cup or FIFA World Cup Qualifying. In those games, the U.S. holds a 8-1-2 record.
Eight of the 13 games have been decided by a goal or less.
A total of 15 players on the roster have experience against Panama. Donovan leads with eight appearances, while Beasley has seven.
Four players have scored against the Marea Roja: Donovan (4), Johnson (3), Beckerman and Goodson. Beckerman’s goal – his first career for the MNT – was the game-winner in the 2009 Gold Cup quarterfinal.
In the 6-0 victory against Panama in World Cup Qualifying on Oct. 13, 2004, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., Eddie Johnson became the first U.S. player in history to record a hat trick as a substitute.
This is the second meeting between the teams in six weeks. On June 11 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, goals from Jozy Altidore and Eddie Johnson paced the U.S. to a 2-0 win in front of 40,847 fans. The goal for Johnson was his 11th in 16 career World Cup Qualifying games, and puts him one behind all-time leaders Clint Dempsey and Donovan.
On that day, Stuart Holden came on as a late sub, making his first FIFA World Cup Qualifying appearance since the match against Costa Rica on Oct. 14, 2009.
The teams met in a friendly for the first time, a 1-0 win on Jan. 25, 2012, in Panama City. U.S. goalkeeper and Budweiser Man of the Match Nick Rimando earned his sixth career cap that day. Sean Johnson collected his first cap for the Senior Team when he replaced Rimando at halftime.
The teams met in the final of the 2005 Gold Cup, a 0-0 draw that was decided in penalties. Kasey Keller, currently on assignment as the U.S. goalkeeper coach, stood in goal. His counterpart was Jaime Penedo, who is still the starting ‘keeper for Panama.
In qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the teams met four times, playing home and away in both the Semifinal and Final Rounds of qualifying. The U.S. won three times with one tie.
In their last encounter in the Gold Cup, Clint Dempsey scored the lone goal in the USA’s 1-0 victory in the semifinal round of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, marking the fourth straight time that the U.S. has eliminated Panama from the Gold Cup’s knockout round.
Earlier in that tournament, Panama collected its only victory against the United States, a 2-1 win on June 11 in Tampa, Fla. The defeat remains the only U.S. loss ever in the group phase of the tournament dating back to 1991.
Chris Wondolowski entered as a sub in that game. Panama’s Blas Perez drew the penalty kick that proved decisive in that match.
ROSTER NOTES
Landon Donovan is the only player on the USA’s Gold Cup roster to have started in all five matches during this year’s tournament, and he had played 432 straight minutes before being subbed out by Chris Wondolowski in the 72nd minute. He now has 33 career Gold Cup appearances, the most in Gold Cup history.
Donovan has at least one assist in three straight games and with an assist in the championship game would match the U.S. record of four, set by Donovan on two previous occasions in 2004 and 2009.
Brek Shea replaced the injured Joshua Gatt (knee) on the final 23-man roster.
With his game-winner against Costa Rica, Brek Shea became the seventh player on this U.S. roster to score his first international goal in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Shea joins Corona as the second player to score his debut goal in the 2013 edition of the regional championship.
Eight players on the roster have previous experience in the Gold Cup, and three are former champions: DaMarcus Beasley (2002, 2005, 2007), Landon Donovan (2002, 2005, 2007), and Michael Parkhurst (2007).
Donovan is the USA’s all-time leader in appearances (32) and goals (18) in the Gold Cup. He has played in six Gold Cups, the most of any player in history.
Donovan scored his 50th and 51st career international goals when the U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Guatemala 6-0 on July 5 in San Diego.
Wondolowski and Alejandro Bedoya each notched their first international goals that day, “Wondo” finishing a loose ball intended for Stuart Holden while Bedoya got on the end of a cross across the box by Shea.
Joe Corona made his first start for the senior team in that game.
It was the USA’s most lopsided win since an 8-0 victory against Barbados on June 15, 2008.
Against Belize, Donovan became the first MNT player to record 50 career goals and 50 assists when he recorded an assist on Stuart Holden’s goal in the second half. The midfielder notched another assist on Michael Orozco Fiscal’s header goal later in the half and also converted a penalty kick for his 52nd career goal.
Six USA players made their Gold Cup debuts that day: Nick Rimando, Orozco Fiscal, Corona, Diskerud, Jose Torres and second-half substitution Shea.
With his start, the Norwegian-born Mix Diskerud is now officially tied to the United States for his international career.
With his goal against Cuba, Corona became the sixth U.S. player on this roster to score his first goal with the National Team in a Gold Cup game. Beckerman tallied the tying goal in the 2-1 win in extra time against Panama in the 2009 Gold Cup quarterfinal. Clarence Goodson one-upped him in the next game, scoring the game-winner against Honduras in the 2-0 win on June 23 in Chicago. Onyewu also made his first count, scoring in second-half stoppage time to deliver the U.S. a dramatic 2-1 victory in the 2005 semifinal.
The others: Beasley potted the game-winner in stoppage time of the opener of the 2002 Gold Cup on Jan. 29, 2002, against Korea Republic, and Holden in the 4-0 win on July 4, 2009, against Grenada.
Coincidentally, the goals by Beasley and Onyewu came in the 92nd minute.
A total of 12 players were part of a portion, or all, of the past MNT camp that saw the U.S. collect four straight victories and earn nine points in World Cup Qualifying: Beasley, Beckerman, Edgar Castillo, Corona, Gomez, Goodson, Bill Hamid, Stuart Holden, Sean Johnson, Parkhurst, Rimando and Shea.
Six players on the original roster play professionally in Mexico, the most ever on a U.S. squad: Beasley, Castillo, Corona, Gomez, Orozco Fiscal and Torres. Castillo and Corona have been joined by Gomez this offseason at Club Tijuana, while Beasley and Orozco are paired at Puebla.
With the departure of Gomez, Real Salt Lake is the only team with three players on the USA’s Gold Cup roster: Beckerman, Tony Beltran and Rimando. (Watch Three Cheers for Nick Rimando)
Beasley started four straight matches at left back in May and June – including the 4-3 win against Germany and consecutive victories in qualifying against Jamaica and Panama – before missing the Honduras match through a card accumulation suspension. With his start against Belgium on May 29, he became the 13th player in MNT history to earn 100 caps. (Watch Beasley tribute)
Castillo and Corona had another historic run with Club Tijuana, this time in the 2013 Copa Libertadores where they advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to top-seed Atletico Mineiro based on away goals.
Holden returned to the U.S. fold for the first time since October of 2010 and played in two matches, including as a reserve in the 2-0 win against Panama on June 11 in Seattle. (Watch as Holden discussed his return to the MNT)
Bedoya has recorded five goals and four assists in 11 league games this year for Helsinborg. After being a late addition to the roster for the 2011 Gold Cup, he had a breakout performance, starting in four matches including all three in the knockout phase.
San Jose forward Wondolowski tied Roy Lassiter’s MLS single-season goals record in 2012 with 27 total. Wondolowski collected both the MLS Golden Boot and MVP award and was named MLS Player of the Month four times.
IN THE CENTENNIAL RECORD BOOK
The match against Costa Rica marked the 600th international game for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Including the win against Honduras, the lifetime record stands at 247-226-129 dating back to 1916.
With its Gold Cup semifinal victory against Honduras, the U.S. MNT currently holds a record plus-24 goal differential in 2013. The USA has outscored its opponents 38-14 this year, ranking ahead of the USA’s 2000 campaign when the squad outscored its opponents 34-11 (plus-23 goal differential).
With the win against El Salvador, the MNT has collected double-digits in victories in a single year for the eighth time in team history.
Donovan tied a U.S. record with his three-assist performance during a 5-1 quarterfinal victory against El Salvador on July 21. That mark tied a record he already shared with Cobi Jones, who had three assists against Trinidad & Tobago on April 1, 2009. Donovan first set the record with three assists against the Cayman Islands on Nov. 14, 1993.
In the first meeting between the USA and Belize, Wondolowski became the third U.S. player to tally a hat trick in a Gold Cup match, joining Brian McBride and Landon Donovan. It also marked the 15th time a MNT player has notched three or more goals in a game.
Landon Donovan is the only U.S. MNT player in history to record 50 goals and 50 assists. He is currently on 56 goals and 56 assists.
He has reached the 150 cap plateau, and is 14 games shy of the all-time record set by Cobi Jones.
Three players on the current roster are part of the inaugural U-17 Residency Program class in 1999: Beasley, Beckerman, and Donovan.
With the win against Germany on June 2, the U.S. is now 2-1-1 under Klinsmann against teams ranked in the top 10 in the world.
The first ever victory in Jamaica in World Cup Qualifying added to the list of firsts during Klinsmann’s tenure that include the win against four-time World Cup champion Italy and the road win against Mexico at Estadio Azteca.
GOLD CUP BY THE NUMBERS:
3: Assists by Landon Donovan in the past three games
3: Hat tricks scored by U.S. players in Gold Cup history: Donovan, Brian McBride, Chris Wondolowski
4: Goals allowed in the 2013 Gold Cup
4: Players on this year’s squad who have scored against Panama –Donovan (4), Eddie Johnson (3), Kyle Beckerman and Clarence Goodson
5: Consecutive Gold Cup Finals appearances
7: Players on the roster who scored their first career goal during the Gold Cup
9: Gold Cup final appearances for the U.S.
10: Straight U.S. MNT wins (team record)
10: Players who earned their first U.S. MNT cap in this year’s Gold Cup
11: Times the U.S. MNT has won its group in Gold Cup competition
18: Goals scored by Donovan in his Gold Cup career (CONCACAF record)
19: Goals scored by the U.S. in the 2013 Gold Cup (most all-time for USA in this competition)
23: U.S. MNT wins under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann
56: Career goals for Donovan
75: Balls won by Kyle Beckerman in this year’s tournament
98: U.S. MNT shots (54 on goal) in the tournament through five matches (19.6/game)
150: Appearances for Donovan (only 14 behind all-time leader Cobi Jones)
432: Consecutive minutes played in the Gold Cup for Donovan before coming out in 72nd minute of the semifinal win over Honduras.
6,717: Miles traveled (San Diego-Portland-Salt Lake City-Hartford-Baltimore-Dallas-Chicago)
IN THE GOLD CUP FINAL
The U.S. is playing the championship final of the Gold Cup for the ninth time in 12 total confederation championships dating back to 1991. All time, the United States holds a 2-4-2 record, winning twice in penalty shootouts.
1991: Honduras; 0-0 T (4-3 pks)
1993: Mexico; 0-4 L
1998: Mexico; 0-1 L
2002: Costa Rica; 2-0 W; Wolff, Agoos
2005: Panama; 0-0 T (3-1 pks)
2007: Mexico; 2-1 W; Donovan, Feilhaber
2009: Mexico; 0-5 L
2011: Mexico; 2-4 L; Bradley, Donovan
ABOUT THE GOLD CUP
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is the Confederation Championship encompassing the region of North America, Central America and the Caribbean. With 35 member nations, a total of 12 teams reach the Gold Cup tournament. Five teams advance through the qualification tournament in Central America (the Copa Centroamericana), while four qualify from the Caribbean championship (the Digicel Cup). The three teams from North America – Canada, Mexico and the United States – receive automatic entry.
The Gold Cup consists of two phases: the group phase and the knockout phase. In the group phase, there are three groups of four teams each. The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout phase, along with the two best third-place teams. The knockout phase begins with quarterfinals and is single elimination. In the knockout phase, if teams are tied at the end of regulation they will play two 15-minute overtime periods. If there is no winner, the match will be decided by penalty kicks.
The winner of the 2013 Gold Cup will qualify for a playoff against the winner of the 2015 tournament to determine the CONCACAF entrant in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
GROUP A
GROUP B
GROUP C
Canada
El Salvador
Belize
Martinique
Haiti
Costa Rica
Mexico
Honduras
Cuba
Panama
Trinidad & Tobago
United States
Visit ussoccer.com for the complete Gold Cup information.
CONCACAF GROUP C FINAL STANDINGS
Team
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
GD
Pts.
USA
3
3
0
0
11
2
+9
9
Costa Rica
3
2
1
0
4
1
+3
6
Cuba
3
1
2
0
4
7
- 3
3
Belize
3
0
3
0
1
11
-10
0
July 9 – Portland, Ore.
Costa Rica 3, Cuba 0
USA 6, Belize 1
July 13 – Sandy, Utah
USA 4, Cuba 1
Costa Rica 1, Belize 0
July 16 – Hartford, Conn.
Cuba 4, Belize 0
USA 1, Costa Rica 0
Quarterfinals
July 20 – Georgia Dome – Atlanta
Mexico 1, Trinidad & Tobago 0
Panama 5, Cuba 1
July 21 – M&T Bank Stadium –Baltimore
USA 5, El Salvador 1
Honduras 1, Costa Rica 0
Semifinals
July 24 – Cowboys Stadium – Arlington
USA 3, Honduras 1
Mexico 1, Panama 2
JURGEN KLINSMANN FACT FILE: Jurgen Klinsmann is in his third year and second full calendar year in charge of the U.S. Men’s National Team. Below are some of his past accomplishments as a player and coach.
Klinsmann was named the U.S. Men’s National Team head coach on July 29, 2011, making him the 35th coach in the history of the program.
Klinsmann’s record as head coach of the Men’s National Team is 22-8-6, which now includes the longest winning streaks in team history which began with the 4-3 win against second-ranked Germany in the Centennial Celebration Match on June 2 in Washington, D.C.
The United States finished 2012 with a 9-2-3 record and .750 winning percentage, matching the USA’s best ever winning percentage in a calendar that previously occurred in 2005.
With Klinsmann at the helm, the U.S. collected four historic victories. In addition to USA’s first win in Jamaica in qualifying, the team won for the first time against four-time World Cup champion Italy, capturing its first ever victory against Mexico on Mexican soil and defeating his former team and second-ranked Germany.
Klinsmann’s U.S. coaching debut was a 1-1 draw against Mexico on Aug. 10, 2011, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. During Klinsmann’s abbreviated 2011 tenure, opponents outscored the USA by a 7-5 margin. The USA’s two victories during the Klinsmann era in 2011 include a 1-0 win against Honduras (Oct. 8) and a 3-2 victory against Slovenia (Nov. 15).
Klinsmann was named the Germany National Team manager in 2004 and guided Germany to a 20-6-8 record and a third-place finish in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He earned Coach of the Year honors in Germany, and two years later, he took over the head coaching position at Bayern Munich.
As a player, Klinsmann played 17 club seasons from 1981 to 1998 with the following teams: Stuttgarter Kickers (1981-84), VfB Stuttgart (1984-89), Internazionale (1989-92), Monaco (1992-94), Tottenham Hotspur (1994-95, 97-98), Bayern Munich (1995-97) and Sampdoria (1997-98). During that time, he scored 226 goals in 506 appearances. He was named German Player of the Year in 1988 and 1994 and FWA Footballer of the Year in 1995.
Klinsmann earned 108 caps with the German National Team, scoring 47 goals. He participated in three World Cups (1990, 1994 and 1998) and won the 1990 World Cup.
Klinsmann was born on July 30, 1964, in Goppingen, Germany.
IN FOCUS: PANAMA
Federación Panameña de Fútbol
Founded: 1937 (Joined FIFA in 1918)
Current FIFA Ranking: 38
Head Coach: Julio Dely Valdes
Best World Cup Finish: Never qualified
Best CONCACAF Gold Cup Finish: Second Place (2005)
Caps Leader: Ricardo Phillips (110)
Top Scorer: Luis Tapia (27)
PANAMA ROAD TO CONCACAF GOLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
Panama almost did not qualify for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, needing to win its fifth-place game in the 2013 Copa Centroamericana. Panama defeated Guatemala 3-1 to cap off that tournament on Jan. 25. Panama went 0-0-2 during the Group B stage of the Copa Centroamericana.
In this year’s Gold Cup, Panama won Group A with a 2-0-1 record, advancing along with Mexico to the knockout stage. Panama opened with a 2-1 win against Mexico on July 7, followed by a 1-0 win against Martinique on July 11 and a scoreless draw against Canada on July 14.
Panama’s offense erupted for an impressive 6-1 victory against Cuba in the quarterfinal stage on July 20. Blas Perez and Gabriel Torres each had two goals in that match at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Perez and Torres again led the way for a 2-1 semifinal victory against Mexico on July 24 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Torres’ 61st-minute goal proved to be the game-winner.
PANAMA ROSTER NOTES
Gabriel Torres enters Sunday’s championship match tied for the tournament lead with five goals. The USA’s Landon Donovan and Chris Wondolowski also have scored five goals in the 2013 Gold Cup.
Three players on Panama’s roster play in Major League Soccer. Torres represents the Colorado Rapids, forward Blas Perez plays for FC Dallas and defender Roberto Chen is a member of the Seattle Sounders.
Perez led Panama with three goals during the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup and was named to the tournament’s Best XI.
Goalkeeper Jaime Penedo and midfielder Gabriel Gomez started in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup championship match against the USA, which won 3-1 in penalties following a scoreless regulation and overtime.
PANAMA ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS: 1-Jaime Penedo, 12-Luis Mejia, 15-Alex Rodriguez
DEFENDERS: 2-Leonel Parris, 3-Harold Cummings, 4-Carlos Rodriguez, 5-Roman Torres, 13-Jean Carlos Cedeno, 17-Roderick Miller, 21-Richard Dixon, 23-Roberto Chen
MIDFIELDERS: 6-Gabriel Gomez, 8-Marcos Sanchez, 10-Eybir Bonaga, 14-Juan Perez, 18-Jairo Jimenez, 19-Alberto Quintero, 20-Anibal Godoy, 22-Rolando Escobar
FORWARDS: 7-Blas Perez, 9-Gabriel Torres, 11-Cecilio Waterman, 16-Rolando Blackburn
LAST TIME
On the field for USA:
July 24, 2013 – Cowboys Stadium – Arlington, Texas – 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup – Semifinal
USA 3 Eddie Johnson 11, Landon Donovan 27, 53
Honduras 1 Nery Medina 52
USA: 1-Nick Rimando; 15-Michael Parkhurst, 25-Matt Besler, 21-Clarence Goodson, 7-DaMarcus Beasley (capt.); 14-Kyle Beckerman (8-Mix Diskerud, 67), 11-Stuart Holden; 20-Alejandro Bedoya, 10-Landon Donovan (19-Chris Wondolowski, 72), 16-Jose Torres (23-Brek Shea, 67); 26-Eddie Johnson
Subs Not Used: 2-Edgar Castillo, 4-Michael Orozco Fiscal, 6-Joe Corona,12-Sean Johnson,13-Tony Beltran, 17-Will Bruin, 22-Bill Hamid, 24-Omar Gonzalez, 27-Alan Gordon
Head coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
HON: 22-Donis Escobar; 3-Brayan Beckeles, 2-Osman Chavez (capt.), 13-Nery Medina, 6-Juan Carlos Garcia; 23-Edder Delgado, 20-Jorge Claros, 16-Alexander Lopez (9-Jerry Palacios, 46); 14-Andy Najar, 21-Roger Rojas (11-Rony Martinez, 69), 7-Diego Reyes (17-Marvin Chavez, 46)
Subs not used: 1-Jose Mendoza, 5-Jose Velasquez, 8-Gerson Rodas, 10-Mario Martinez, 12-Orlin Peralta, 15-Mario Berrios, 18-Kevin Hernandez, 19-Wilmer Fuentes, 24-Erick Norales
Head Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez
On the field for Panama
July 24, 2013 – Cowboys Stadium – Arlington, Texas – 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup – Semifinal
Panama 2 Blas Perez 13, Roman Torres 60
Mexico 1 Luis Montes 26
PAN : 1-Jaime Penedo; 2-Leonel Parris, 4-Carlos Rodriguez, 5-Roman Torres, 23-Roberto Chen; 8-Marcos Sanchez, 6-Gabriel Gomez (3-Harold Cummings, 89), 20-Anibal Godoy, 19-Alberto Quintero (18-Jairo Jimenez, 65); 7-Blas Perez, 9-Gabriel Torres (11-Cecilio Waterman, 75)
Head Coach: Luis Suarez
MEX : 1-Jonathan Orozco; 19-Miguel Prado, 4-Joel Andrade, 18-Juan Valenzuela, 13-Adrian Aldrete; 8-Luis Montes, 6-Carlos Pena (14-Jorge Enriquez, 45), 22-Alejandro Flores (21-Javier Orozco, 65), 10-Marco Mora; 11-Rafael Marquez (17-Isaac Brizuela, 72), 9-Raul Jimenez
Head coach: Jose De la Torre
Vs. Panama
June 11, 2013 – CenturyLink Field – Seattle, Wash. – 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier – Final Round
USA 2 Jozy Altidore 36, Eddie Johnson 53
Panama 0
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Brad Evans, 3-Omar Gonzalez, 5-Matt Besler, 7-DaMarcus Beasley; 4-Michael Bradley, 20-Geoff Cameron; 18-Eddie Johnson (10-Joe Corona, 87), 8-Clint Dempsey (capt.), 23-Fabian Johnson (14-Brad Davis, 87); 17-Jozy Altidore (11-Stuart Holden, 90+1)
Subs Not Used: 12-Brad Guzan, 2-Edgar Castillo, 9-Terrence Boyd, 15-Michael Parkhurst , 16-Sacha Kljestan, 21-Clarence Goodson, 22-Nick Rimando
Head coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
PAN: 1-Jaime Penedo; 2-Leonel Parris, 5-Roman Torres, 23-Felipe Baloy (capt.), 4-Carlos Rodriguez; 8-Marcos Sanchez, 21-Amilcar Henriquez (9-Gabriel Torres, 78), 11-Armando Cooper (10-Nelson Barahona, 60), 19-Alberto Quintero; 20-Anibal Godoy (16-Rolando Blackburn, 59); 18-Luis Tejada
Subs Not Used: 12-Luis Mejia, 3-Roberto Chen, 6-Gabriel Gomez, 7-Edwin Aguilar, 13-Jean Carlo Cedeño, 14-Juan de Dios Perez, 15-Kevin Melgar, 17-Luis Henriquez, 22-Rolando Escobar
Head coach: Julio Dely Valdes
- See more at: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/mens-national-team/2013/07/us-mnt-seeks-fifth-gold-cup-crown-when-it-faces-panama.aspx#sthash.uFAr9KSX.dpuf