United States versus Panama – Gold Cup semi-final: Second half review (Part 1)
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sacha-Kljestan-c32070 was replaced by Landon
Donovan at the half time break. This was a tactical change more than anything else as it was influenced by United States’ lack of creativity in the final third of the field. Donovan’s introduction was supposed to infuse a sense of urgency into his team mates
due to the American midfielder’s direct approach to the match.
In the 46th minute of the encounter, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Panama-c2978 protested with the referee to book the American midfielder but common sense prevailed in the end
when Dempsey was let off with just a warning by the match official as he successfully stood up against the pressure applied on him by Panama’s players.
In the 49th minute, Panama had a wonderful chance to take the lead as a long ball evaded America’s defence and found http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luis-Tejada-c22818. Panama’s striker found himself in space inside the American penalty area but just as he
was about to take his shot, the linesman on the far side raised his flag to signal Tejada’s offside position.
Despite attacking numbers, United States found it hard to break down Panama’s resilient http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Defence-c38904 as Clint Dempsey and co. rarely found space in behind their opponents back line. Panama defended deep and thus denied Agudelo any space
in behind them. United States were forced to play most of their passes to their target man with his back to the Panama goal. This was their main problem in the early stages of the second half.
In the 66th minute, United States piled on the pressure on Panama as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/America-c38390’s midfielder unleashed a powerful shot at Panama’s goal but the
Central American nations’ defence successfully blocked the effort from reaching their goal as the ball rolled out of play as the referee awarded America a corner kick.
The set piece was taken by Clint Dempsey but it was easily cleared away by Panama’s defence as the score line remained at nil all inside the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. United States soon after conducted their second substitution
of the match when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Juan-Agudelo-c19644 as United States’ front man.
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