US Exacts Revenge, Defeat Panama 1-0

It wasn't easy, but the US got the job done and defeated Panama the second time around by the slimmest of margins.Bob Bradley's side stayed organized for a full 90 minutes, allowing them to gut out a 1-0 victory thanks to the brilliance of two surprise bench players. One is the face of the team, while the other used to represent the bright future of US Soccer, Landon Donovan and Freddy Adu. The two combined to set up the game-winning goal that was finished by the one and only Clint Dempsey. The win puts the Americans in the Gold Cup final at the famous Rose Bowl with a coveted trip to the Confederations Cup on the line.

Bob Bradley opened the match with the same lineup and formation he used for the majority of the Jamaica match, as this team turned in the best performance of the tournament for the Yanks. That meant Landon Donovan was once again relegated to the bench, a very bold decision from a boss that had a lot on the line. While Kljestan and Bedoya were called on to be more than glorified subs starting in a 4-2-3-1, where Juan Agudelo replaced the injured Altidore up top as the lone forward. 

The first half was rather uneventful. Possession was dominated by the US, but it wasn't purposeful possession. Real goal scoring chances were far and few between for the Yanks. Panama's big centerbacks, especially Baloy, were once again stifling the US attack. Part of this had to do with Kljestan's poor performance. He wasn't checking in to the right spots or linking with the attacking players at an elite level. This created a major hole in a US offense that was unable to take advantage of Panama's less defensive minded 4-5-1 formation. 
Juan Agudelo had the best chance of the half heading a ball into the ground, which jumped up and nailed the cross bar. Agudelo was the most active player on the field in the first half, creating chances while playing a physical brand of football. 

After a half that lacked offensive power, the new Zen of US soccer Bob Bradley decided to make a switch. Landon Donovan came on to start the 2nd half to provide some experience, speed, and creative energy. His infusion into the lineup didn't go as smoothly as planned. Landon failed to make an impression on the game at first, looking like a shell of his former self. 

It wasn't until Bob Bradley pulled a rabbit out of his hat and brought on the forgotten man, Freddy Adu in the 64th minute. Adu did not even dress for the 3 group play games and all of the sudden Bradley was calling his # in the biggest of matches. Believe it or not Adu delivered. You could see the fancy footwork that was always part of Adu's game, but you also saw his maturation. 

It all culminated in the 76th minute when Adu played a Xavi caliber ball from behind the half-line to the streaking Donovan. Landon calmly collected the pass and rifled a low cross that found Clint Dempsey on the back post, who tapped it into the net with a patented Dempsey slide. It was a goal that broke the scoreless slugfest between two sides that were unwilling to give in. 

Bob Bradley's genius, Freddy Adu's emergence, and Clint Dempsey's win at all cost mentality led the US to a much deserved 1-0 victory. One more win and the US will be crowned CONCACAF champions and more importantly two summers from now they will find themselves in Brazil, gearing up for the Confederations Cup. Soon after, they may be celebrating another history making win against a world-class program like Spain.