Written by
The Sports Network
Panama City, Panama (Sports Network) - A first-half goal from Graham Zusi was
enough for the U.S. men's national team to collect its second 1-0 win in four
days, this time in a friendly against Panama.
A stoppage-time goal from Ricardo Clark on Saturday against Venezuela gave the
Americans a win in their first match of 2012. However, the team only had to
wait nine minutes before Zusi fired them into the lead on Wednesday while
Jurgen Klinsmann's men had to play the final 35 minutes of the match with 10
men after Geoff Cameron picked up a red card.
The U.S. got off to a fast start as a left-wing cross was played into the area
and it deflected off of Teal Bunbury and into the path of Zusi, who made no
mistake with his finish from seven yards, driving the ball underneath
goalkeeper Luis Mejia.
It was one of the few chances that the U.S. was able to create, and Panama
enjoyed the better of the play over the remainder of the match as U.S.
goalkeeper Nick Rimando needed to make two nice saves before halftime, the
first on Luis Renteria and then on Blas Perez.
Cameron received his marching orders in the 52nd minute when a long ball from
the back was tracked down by Perez on the edge of the penalty area, only for
Cameron to bring him down from behind.
The challenge earned the defender a straight red card, but Perez missed two
good scoring opportunities in the final 15 minutes that allowed the Americans
to hold on.
The first came on a header from six yards that missed the left post by inches,
while the Panama striker fired wide of the net from close range when he should
have scored in the 86th minute.
Klinsmann will take his team to Italy for its next match on February 29 before
beginning World Cup qualifying in June.
The Sports Network