United States versus Panama – Gold Cup semi-final: First half review (Part 1)
After losing to Panama in the group stages of the Gold Cup, U.S.A faced their familiar foes once again in the Gold Cup semi-finals at the Reliant Stadium on 23rd of June, 2011. Coach Bob Bradley put out an attacking
looking United States line up as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Clarence-Goodson-c9273.
In the midfield department, Bradley deployed his son http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Juan-Agudelo-c19644
played as America’s only striker with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alejandro-Bedoya-c4390 supporting him from the midfield.
On the other hand, Panama went with a conservative line up with a 4-5-1 formation. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Machado-c23008, Luis
Henriquez and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Medina-c25103 played in the centre of the
park.
United States kicked off the match as the stronger of the two teams but soon Panama asserted their midfield dominance. In the 11th minute of the encounter, Panama got their first shot off at United States’ goal but the
underdogs failed to test Tim Howard as the shot sailed wide of its intended target. In the 17th minute, U.S.A rose up to the challenge as Bedoya played in Clint Dempsey inside the Panama penalty area.
The Fulham midfielder had the awareness to spot Agudelo’s run as he headed the ball backwards for his compatriot but the young striker was a bit too late to reach the ball as the move fizzled out due to some miserly defending by
Panama. In the 18th minute of the match, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Armando-Cooper-c6550 went into the referee’s book after the midfielder caught Clint Dempsey on his ankle just as the American playmaker was about to launch the ball up field for a counter attack.
The referee duly booked Cooper for his troubles as the tackle on Dempsey was anything but cynical. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Real-c30728
pace up front. Much of the game became bogged down in the midfield department as both the teams were playing three central midfielders each.
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