It's such a manly sport, I don't know why more Americans don't watch.
Posted on 06/08/2005 10:58:04 PM PDT by soccer_linux_mozilla
PANAMA CITY, Panama (Reuters) - The United States scored three times in a dominant first half display as they eased to a 3-0 victory over Panama in a CONCACAF region World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.
A goal apiece before the break from Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan and Brian McBride were enough to keep the visitors a point behind Mexico at the top of the six-team final qualifying group for next year's World Cup in Germany. With four victories each from five games, the U.S and Mexico, who lead the standings on 13 points after a 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago earlier in the day, look certain to take two of the three automatic places available to the region.
The fourth-placed side will play off against Asia's fifth team for a finals berth.
Fresh from a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica at the weekend, Bocanegra gave a confident U.S. side the lead in the eighth minute when his header from Donovan's corner kick proved too powerful for Panama goalkeeper Donaldo Gonzalez to keep out.
Donovan doubled the advantage 14 minutes later with a superb header from a Steve Ralston cross, notching his 22nd international goal and his third in two matches following a brace against Costa Rica.
Brilliant against the Ticos on Saturday, U.S. keeper Kasey Keller was at his acrobatic best to twice deny Julio Medina and Felipe Baloy with a stunning triple save in the 26th minute.
Ricardo Phillips and Jose Luis Garces both went close for the hosts before McBride struck a killer blow for the U.S. in the 43rd minute, latching on to a deflected Frankie Hejduk shot to fire home from inside the penalty area.
The second half was a far more sedate affair with neither side adding to the scoring, although McBride and Donovan both went close for the visitors.
Thanks, I was watching the game. Guess I can go to sleep now.
Soccer? *YAWN*
VIVA MEXICO!!!
It's such a manly sport, I don't know why more Americans don't watch.
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LA Times?
Knock it off, both of you.
Shut up struwwelpeter. Sports are all good, except curling.
Oh, well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Go Donetsk coal miners!
There's just something about it, isn't there?
What gets me is those cards. Objectively, it's no
different than penalties in football, I suppose, but
it makes it seem like a big kindergarten class, somehow.
Bad news. Hopefully Mexico will beat the US.
Viva la Mexico. (in soccer)
I know folks around here are anti-soccer, but just imagine this. The World Cup next year is in Germany. Imagine if the USA wins the World Cup in Germany against, say,,,,France!!! The schadenfreude would be truly sweet! Winning the Cup would be a spit in the eye to a world that largely hates us. We beat them at "there" game!!
Just musing.
:-)
At the rate they're going, France will fail to qualify for the final.
unheard of.... soccer is too manly for the french.
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