Gold Cup semifinal: U.S. vs. Panama 1st half live blog

After losing 2-1 to Panama in the Gold Cup group play a week and a half ago, the U.S. has a chance to get some revenge after suffering one of its worst defeats in recent memory. The Gold Cup semifinals take place tonight at Houston's Reliant Stadium.

The U.S. faces Panama and then Honduras plays Mexico. A dream final of U.S. vs. Mexico on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl is what everyone wants but first they both have some work to do at the home of the Texans.

Jozy Altidore is done for the Gold Cup (out 4-6 weeks with a hamstring injury) so Juan Agudelo gets the start in his place, other than that it's the same squad that beat Jamaica 2-0 on Sunday.

U.S. starters:
Howard
Cherundolo, Goodson, Bocanegra, Lichaj
Jones, Bradley
Bedoya, Kljestan, Dempsey
Agudelo

Panama starters:

Penedo
Machado, Torres, Baloy, Henriquez
Barahona, Henriquez, Gomez, Cooper
Tejada, Quintero

U.S. wins the first corner but as usual, doesn't do anything productive with it.

Bedoya did a nice job to keep the ball inbounds and Agudelo tried to back down a defender in the box but he was called for a shaky foul.

Jones needs to play a little more cautiously since he's carrying a yellow card. Panama has four players with yellow cards.

Great reminder, that was the first time Panama had ever beaten the U.S.

Long ball for Bedoya is snatched up by Penedo who comes way off his line to grab it.

Jones with a beautiful ball across the field to somebody's chest. That's what they need more of, some less Vanilla passes.

Dempsey wins a header in the box but Penedo gets it before Agudelo can.

Bedoya gets crushed on a tackle by Cooper who picks up a yellow. The former BC star was hit right in his back. Must of hurt pretty bad.

Bedoya wins a free kick midway between the box and midfield. He seems to be making things happen early on in this one.

Dempsey shoots from distance but it goes well wide. Like the confidence, don't enjoy the lack of accuracy.

U.S. looks to have a counterattack starting but Agudelo misplays a pass to Kljestan at midfield. Bad play, gotta complete that routine pass.

Great buildup by the U.S. Bedoya gives it to Cherundolo who hits a cross to Agudelo. His diving header goes off the Panama post and the U.S. can't connect on the scramble following that rebound.

Panama starts jawing with Tim Howard. Now, they're starting to flop and whine all over the field. I've never seen this team before (since I missed the last meeting) but they're already starting to bug me.

Bedoya gets called for a foul outside the U.S. box. Panama can't do anything with it but it goes out for a throw. They play the ball across the goal but nobody is there for Panama.

Dempsey gets taken down for a U.S. free kick. This game is getting chippy and I kinda like it.

Good buildup by the U.S. but there's too many bodies in the box and they put it out for a goal kick. Just gotta find that finishing touch.

Another yellow card for Panama (Henriquez) after one of their players kicks Bedoya after a play had gone by.

The U.S. with another chance in the box but they can't get the final shot lined up, Dempsey tries to do something with it but it was an impossible ball to control.

Panama wins its first corner in the 40th minute.

Agudelo tries to beat a couple Panama defenders but he clearly drags one down and is rightly called for the foul. He has to show more variety than just trying to blow by everyone. Doesn't work, even against a team like this.

Quintero wins a free kick for Panama right outside the U.S. box. Could have been a disaster there as Goodson got beaten and was forced to tackle him from behind. Barahona tries to be a hero and put it on goal from a tough angle but it goes over.

One minute of added time.

Halftime: 0-0

U.S. has carried the play although they have just had the one really good chance (Agudelo's header). As the announcers said, the U.S. desperately need Landon Donovan in the game. They need someone that can break a defense down consistently, they lack that at the moment.

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet

Gold Cup: U.S. vs. Jamaica 2nd half live blog

No halftime subs for Bob Bradley.

Jones scores in the 49th minute as his volley off a deflected header goes off a Jamaican defender and past Ricketts who had dove and was out of position. Not his fault. 1-0 U.S.

It's the first goal that Jamaica has conceded in this Gold Cup.

Wednesday's Gold Cup semifinals are at Houston's Reliant Stadium.

Jamaica hasn't impressed me at all so far today. Other than that first gift chance, they haven't looked dangerous. They seem to be lacking energy or something, where's Usain Bolt when you need him?

Damn, what a save by Ricketts on Dempsey. A ball by Cherundolo was crossed into the box and Dempsey was right by the goal but his header was stuffed. That would have been it for Jamaica.

Watson in for Vernan in the 64th minute.

Donovan in for Bedoya in the 65th minute. Great match for Bedoya, he is proving to be a valuable part of this team.

Jones gets through for a breakaway and a trip by Jermaine Taylor leads to a red card and a U.S. free kick.

U.S. offsides negates a good chance by Agudelo who goes tumbling over Ricketts.

Jamaica gets free in the box but a shot is blocked by the U.S. and deflected off Jamaica for a U.S. throw in.

Dempsey has a go on a long shot but it's stopped by Ricketts.


Jamaica's last sub, Daley on for Shelton.

Maurice Edu in for Jones in the 75th minute. Great job by Jones, his best in a U.S. jersey. He scored the only goal so far and earned the disputed red card by Jamaica.

Edu shoots wide, would have ended it for the U.S.

Haha the U.S. looks to have a 2 on 1 breakaway with Ricketts coming way off his line but they get called for an offside.

Dempsey puts it away with a sweet goal in the 79th minute from Agudelo. The cross went through a Jamaican defender's legs and Dempsey made Ricketts dive before he went around him and calmly finished. 2-0 U.S. Dempsey topped it off with the "you can't see me" celebration.

With that goal, Dempsey ties Bruce Murray (21 goals) for fifth all-time on U.S. scoring chart.

It goes without saying that this is by far the best performance by the U.S. so far in the Gold Cup.

The winner of this match gets El Salvador or Panama who play later today.

Bocanegra with a terrible giveaway right to Daley but Howard saves it from the top of the 18.

Two minutes of stoppage time.

U.S. wins one more free kick. Ricketts stops Dempsey's shot and Agudelo's half-chance on a rebound.

Final: U.S. 2, Jamaica 0

The U.S. really played well which was great to see. They needed this type of performance, badly. The U.S. advances to the semifinals on Wednesday, hope they get a rematch with Panama and that Mexico gets to the final by beating Honduras.

Things didn't look good with Donovan sitting at the start and Altidore getting hurt early but a bunch of role players and lesser known guys stood up for Bob Bradley. Jones' lucky goal seemed to get it started and Dempsey's goal was a beauty.

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet

Gold Cup: U.S. vs Jamaica (quarterfinal) 1st half live blog

The U.S. men's national team takes on Jamaica at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC in a Gold Cup quarterfinal match. Winner advances to the semifinals on Wednesday.

Bob Bradley's troops are wearing their red jerseys, Jamaica is in their yellow kits. The U.S. went 2-1-0 in group play while Jamaica was unbeaten at 3-0-0.

After losing to Panama, one of the worst losses in U.S. history, the U.S. beat Guadeloupe 1-0 to limp into the quarterfinals. If they play like they did in those last two games, they'll lose by a few goals to a decent Jamaican side.

U.S. starting 11:
Howard
Cherundolo, Goodson, Bocanegra, Lichaj
Bradley, Jones,
Kljestan, Dempsey, Bedoya
Altidore

Jamaica starting 11:
Ricketts in goal
Vernan, Thomas, Reid, Taylor
Austin, Morrison, Phillips,
Richards, Johnson, Shelton

Altidore wins a U.S. corner kick, the first of the match. Bedoya hits an awkward volley over; I'm happy to see the former BC star in the starting lineup though. He's earned it, he's been one of the few U.S. players to stand out in these three crappy games.

Nice, Wondolowski didn't dress today but Freddy Adu did. Thank you Bob, you finally seem to be getting it (at least a tiny bit).

Haha Jamaica gets a great chance (that looked offside by a mile) but Howard makes the initial save and then they sky it over. Can't believe that wasn't offside and that wasn't finished. Lichaj was the one beaten on the right side.

Not good at all, Altidore goes down with what looks like a hamstring injury.

Bedoya heads it back to Dempsey who's wide open and he forces a good save by Ricketts, U.S. corner.

The U.S. gets more pressure but no good shot off. However, they get another corner. Good work since Jozy left a few minutes ago and Juan Agudelo came in.

Yellow card for Jamaica for a tough challenge on Kljestan.

Cherundolo goes down with a shoulder injury but he's coming back on which is good.

Jones with an obvious trip, he gets a yellow card for his troubles. Easy call, gotta be smarter than that.

Jamaica gets loose at the top of the box but the U.S. defense clears it out. The backline looked shaky there for the U.S., almost committed a foul.

Dempsey wins a free kick from 30 yards out and forces a decent save over the bar by Ricketts. U.S. corner but they don't do anything with it.

Good run by Jones gives the U.S. another corner, gotta make the most of these.

Jamaica counterattacks off the U.S. corner but the final shot is an easy save for Howard.

Kljestan hits a top-spin shot that Ricketts knocks out for a corner. Bicycle kick by Dempsey over the net.

Bedoya with a snap header wide, good work by him and Kljestan.

Agudelo takes a long shot that's stopped and Jones has a chance on the rebound but he can't square it up and it goes out for a goal kick.

Great thru ball from Bradley to Lichaj but Ricketts makes a diving save and holds on to it.


Halftime: U.S. 0, Jamaica 0

Feels like the U.S. should be up by a goal or two but Jamaica did have that one ridiculous chance that they somehow didn't score on. U.S. is carrying the play and controlling possession. Keep playing like this and a goal or two will come although Ricketts (LA Galaxy) is a quality goalkeeper.

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet

Gold Cup: U.S. vs. Guadeloupe 2nd half live blog

Talking to Shimer at halftime (he's in NC). He rightly points out that the U.S. seems generally disinterested in this entire tourney. They should wake up since this decides who goes to the 2013 Confederations Cup which is a sneaky good tournament.

Jozy's goal was nice but Dempsey had two easy headers in the box and Wondolowski should have bagged at least one goal.

I can hate on Bob Bradley all day (and I will at times) but the players also have to step up and perform. It seems like they're taking many steps back from the progress they made last summer in the 2010 World Cup.

And the second half is underway.

Clint Dempsey is now Fulham's all-time leading scorer (didn't know that).

Altidore wins a free kick outside the box as a Guadeloupe defender bumps him in the back.

Jozy with a nice run, shields the ball from a couple defenders and hits a shot that's deflected out for a U.S. corner. Great display of his strength although a goal there would have been better.

I'm repeating myself but Cherundolo sent another good ball into the box but it seemed to surprise Wondolowski who couldn't do much with it.

Jones finds Donovan with a cross in close but Landon somehow puts it over the bar. U.S. is snakebitten right now.

Dempsey wins a free kick and hits a shot off the crossbar and over. 1-0 U.S. in the 60th minute.

Enough, the U.S. has to put this game away so they can get their stars some rest.

Alejandro Bedoya in for Wondolowski, long overdue. Haha and Fox Soccer Channel puts up Feilhaber's name on the screen instead of Bedoya (he gets no respect!).

Yellow card for Guadeloupe after a hard foul on Dempsey. Donovan with the free kick to the side of the box. Looked like it could have been a handball but the U.S. didn't really deserve the call anyway.

Donovan puts a ball into the box but Grandel stops Bedoya on a decent shot from the side.

Guadeloupe corner, they're only down 1-0 in the 73rd minute. This is a joke.

Foul by Lichaj, a bit of a flop by a Guadeloupe player.

And Dempsey has the ball basically on the goal line but he can't put it in as it's blocked by a Guadeloupe defender.

Jozy wins a free kick right at the top of the box, thought maybe it'd be a penalty kick. Altidore is out, Kljestan is in. Good game by Jozy.

Bedoya almost puts a header in, he has been a bright spot off the bench. Earning his minutes.

Michael Bradley out (to protect his yellow card), Maurice Edu in. Last sub for the U.S. 1-0 in the 85th minute.

Great run by Dempsey but he puts the shot well wide. Something is up with him tonight, he doesn't have his usual killer touch.

Two minutes of stoppage time.

Kljestan finds Dempsey alone in front of Guadeloupe's goal but would you believe it, he misses?

Final: U.S. 1, Guadeloupe 0

U.S. advances to face Jamaica on Sunday afternoon (quarterfinals, 3pm at RFK Stadium on Fox Soccer Channel). If the U.S. plays like this again, they'll lose by a couple goals. They barely beat one of the worst teams they'll ever play. This game was beyond depressing. They had a million chances but couldn't put them in save for Altidore's missile.

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet

Gold Cup: U.S. vs. Guadeloupe 1st half live blog

Never in a million years did I think I'd be watching let alone live blogging a sporting event involving Guadeloupe yet here I am. The U.S. men's national team suffered one of its worst losses ever on Saturday (losing 2-1 to Panama) and now they face a must-win to get out of the group stage of the Gold Cup. That's probably the most depressing sentence I've ever written.

Anyway, Canada just drew 1-1 with Panama. So a U.S. tie or win puts them through to the quarterfinals to face Jamaica (3-0) on Sunday in Washington, DC.

U.S. starting 11:
Howard; Cherundolo, Goodson, Bocanegra, Lichaj; Dempsey, Jones, Bradley, Donovan; Wondolowski, Altidore.

Guadeloupe starting 11:
Grandel; Ictoi, Viator, Tacalfred, Zubar; Racon, Gamiette, Auvray, Loval; Socrier, Nabab

Lichaj is making his Gold Cup debut, this is only his fourth match with the team.

I wish I could give you more insight on the Panama loss but I missed it live and once I read the recap I couldn't bare to watch it. Yeah, I'm a baby.

At least the U.S. has a good crowd, soldout Livestrong Arena in Kansas City (the new MLS only stadium).

And we're underway, Altidore wins a free kick outside of the Guadeloupe box.

JP Dellacamara and Kyle Martinho are the announcers on Fox Soccer Channel.

Guadeloupe wins a free kick outside the U.S. box. Howard comes out to get the deflected shot but he goes out for a Guadeloupe corner kick. Sweet Jesus, Howard bungles the corner which leads to a shot off the crossbar and over. Yikes.

No worries, Bob Bradley is shown on the sidelines in his usual dead to the world state.

Ugh, Jozy had a nice to work a 1-2 into space but he gives it right to a defender.

Dempsey wins a free kick outside the Guadeloupe box. Dempsey fires it on goal and Grandel tips it over the crossbar for a corner kick. Nice shot, good save.

Ok, Jozy scores one of his best goals that I've ever seen. A rocket from 25 yards out, Grandel barely moves (9th minute, 12th international goal, 2nd of the Gold Cup). 1-0 U.S., what a strike!

Donovan takes an elbow in the face but no foul call. Hope he's alright.

Wow, they showed a replay from the Guadeloupe goal and that shot took a crazy curve at the end leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

Nabab breaks free for a partial breakaway but he shoots it out on the other sideline. Not sure which U.S. defender was beaten there but it wasn't pretty, he just ran by him pretty easily.

Jones tries to find Altidore with a through ball but he was offside, nice idea.

Brian Dunseth is the sideline reporter, haha what a selection of washed up mediocre American players.

Yikes, Goodson just got tangled up with a Guadeloupe player in the box but there was no call. There definitely could have been, U.S. dodged a bullet there.

Guadeloupe is offside but not before the player shoots it off the crossbar.

And I just found out on Twitter that Guadeloupe isn't even a member of FIFA. Uh shouldn't the U.S. be wiping the floor with these scrubs?

Lichaj makes a nice run into the box, drops it for Donovan but his shot is blocked. Wondolowski skies one from just inside the area (why is he on the team?).

Semifinal loss to Mexico (2007) and Quarterfinal loss to Costa Rica (2009) are the highlights of Guadeloupe's Gold Cup history.

And the announcers make me puke as they note Guadeloupe is a "good team." Yeah ok guys. Haha, their coach is wearing jeans (no joke).

Dempsey with a great chance that he usually buries. Cherundolo puts a cross right on his head but Dempsey puts it wide. Should be 2-0, no excuse.

Cherundolo with another great ball, this time to Wondolowski but it's just out of his reach.

Dempsey with a shot from distance that was ticketed for the back of the net. Good save by Grandel, U.S. corner. Bradley tries a backheel but it's cleared off the line.

If you're wondering Guadeloupe has 400,000 fake people, it's the size of Vermont.

Bradley almost found Dempsey with a sweet chip but Grandel came off his line to clear it out of danger. Good idea.

Cherundolo is flying around, almost had another sweet cross. It was knocked out for a throw in. He's one of the few U.S. players that is doing anything consistently.

Bradley finds Dempsey with a cross that Dempsey puts wide. Didn't matter since he was called offside.

There we go, Wondolowski earns a foul with a nice turn on a Guadeloupe defender on the edge of Guadeloupe's box.

Donovan's free kick is not the best (as usual) but Altidore earns the corner with a nifty move.

Wondolowski gets stuffed twice by Grandel on very good chances. Is Charlie Davies ready to return to the team? Bob Bradley still hasn't found one suitable replacement, anyone that can play with Altidore.

2 minutes of added time and I'm already tired of this game. The U.S. is going to win but they should beat this team by a minimum of five goals on a normal day but right now, they can't get out of their own way.

Halftime: U.S. 1, Guadeloupe 0

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet

Gold Cup opener: U.S. vs. Canada 2nd half

Will Johnson of Canada gets clipped and flops at the top of the U.S. box but doesn't get the call. Maybe if people knew who you were you'd get a call guy.

Haha Johnson gets a step past Bocanegra but the ball goes off his shin pad and out for a U.S. goal kick.

The Ford Field grass (installed this weekend) is looking all beat up. Shocking since Detroit is known for it's lush agriculture.

Michael Bradley gets a yellow card for yanking on a Canadian player's shoulders. Apparently, single yellows get wiped out after group play.

Johnson gets a yellow on basically the next sequence with an ugly tackle from behind on Jones. That was much worse than Bradley's play.

Canada wins a free kick but the pass into the box gets headed wide. The U.S. is not doing much positive at the moment, time to wake up!

Bradley with a nice ball to Altidore, who mistimes his leap but a Canada defender knocks it out for a corner. After a scramble, Bradley's cross goes over the goal and out of bounds.

Is this real life? Canada is breaking guys down but just can't get the final shot off on Howard.

Dunfeld on Canada is down, stretching his leg. Haha Altidore stomped on his foot when he ran by (not intentional).

Oh baby, now we're talking. Cherundolo with a nice cross, deflected by Hirschfeld, Dempsey tries to do a crazy volley but it's deflected out for a corner.

Great goal by Dempsey. Altidore feeds him (deflected by Agudelo) and Dempsey slides bfore connected for a sweet goal in the 62nd minute. 2-0 U.S.

Chris Wondolowski in for Agudelo. Canada also makes a sub, Johnson out and Ali Gerba in.

Wow Gerba with a screamer that got deflected over by a diving Howard. 2nd corner for Canada. That snipe came out of nowhere from some guy I've never heard of.

Altidore gets taken down in the box but rather than get the call, he gets called for a foul. Weird.

After that, Altidore's day is over. Nice opener for Jozy, 1 goal and 1 assist. Sasha Kljestan is in for him, Dempsey moves to forward.

Side note: Former MLS and U.S. national team player Kyle Marinho has been a revelation on commentary with the always solid JP Delacamera.

Canada with another good chance but they're called offsides again (correctly).

Maurice Edu (the U.S.' last sub) is in for Jones. Good game for Jones, he had a couple nice runs (both ways). I'm a fan of his style: toughness and no frills.

Another U.S. corner (their 7th). How about one more goal fellas? De Roasario out and Robert Friend (haha great name) in. And some other Canadian bum is out and another nobody is in. The end.

Couple nice moves by Simpson (Canada).

Howard stops by to make a couple ridiculous saves. Canada corner.

Haha they showed the replay, Howard made 3 excellent saves in a few seconds. What a stud.

Edu with a header out of bounds for a Canada corner. Nice job to get it out of danger.

2 minutes of stoppage time.

Dempsey working on two guys in the box goes down. A little theatrical but if he got a PK out of it, you could understand why.

Game over.

Final: U.S. 2, Canada 0

Decent bounce back performance by the U.S. after getting embarrassed by Spain on Saturday. I'm still confident that I could suit up for Bob Bradley and they'd still get this result but hey, at least they won (by more than 1 goal).

Man of the match: Altidore

Up next: vs. Panama on Saturday

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet

Gold Cup opener: U.S. vs. Canada 1st half

Gotta say it looks weird but it's kinda cool to see the game taking place in Detroit's Ford Field. On the other hand, the CONCACAF Gold Cup logo on Fox Soccer Channel is weak sauce. Looks like something you're child would make in Kindergarten. Listen, I know this tournament is a joke but that doesn't mean the coverage has to act like it.

In the 3rd minute, Jozy Altidore wins a free kick just outside Canada's box. Clint Dempsey takes it and it looked good but it got deflected out by the wall for a U.S. corner. 2 shots by the U.S. blocked and Canada clears it out.

Another U.S. corner won by Steve Cherundolo in the 5th minute.

3rd corner for the U.S. in the 8th minute. Nice collection by Juan Agudelo in the box earns the corner.

Landon Donovan hit a nice cross into the box and the U.S. wanted a handball but no dice. Couldn't tell, I'll have ot see a replay before I blast the refs. Good non-call.

Haha Agudelo won't turn 19 until November (FML!).

Another U.S. corner ends with Michael Bradley blasting a shot that Carlos Bocanegra deflects just wide. Good chance.

I don't care what my man smiling Bob Bradley said to the media ahead of the Spain sacrifice. Canada sucks and there is no excuse for the U.S. having any trouble with them. Nothing less than a three or four goal win is acceptable. If the U.S. wants to be taken seriously worldwide, they have to stomp the bums.

There we go, U.S. scores in the 15th minute. Altidore gets on the board after a nice ball from Donovan and quick turn. A better goalkeeper would have stopped it but it's nice to see Altidore get off the schneid. 1-0 U.S.

Last time the U.S. was in Detroit (1994 vs. Switzerland at the Silverdome)

Haha Canada's team logo is a maple leaf on top of a soccer ball, how stereotypical!

Jozy is working tonight, gets another chance in the box but his cross is stopped by Canada's goalkeeper.

Now they're getting creative, Donovan finds Cherundolo but his cross to Agudelo is too hot to catch up with.

Ugh, Dempsey had some time and space but couldn't make up his mind fast enough and had his shot blocked. Too bad, the U.S. had numbers.

Altidore crosses to Agudelo who shoots it wide.

Canada's first corner! And they predictably do nothing with it.

Dwayne De Rosario with Canada's first decent chance. From outside the box, he just curls it wide past Tim Howard who dove full extension.

Haha Jozy tosses some Canadian schmoe but rightly gets called for a foul.

Nice spin by Jermaine Jones in the midfield to start a U.S. counterattack.

You'd think with his love of soccer and pull in Canada that Steve Nash would suit up for a few games. But no, we're left with a patchwork team that features guys that play in Europe and MLS (that I've mostly never heard of).

Clarence Goodson with a nicely timed offsides trap catches a Canadian player a hair offside.

Agudelo takes a needless flop in the box on a cross. You're better than that Juan, come on bro.

Hirshfeld with a good save on Agudelo after the goalkeeper was going the wrong way. If there was more on that shot, it would have been in. It took a deflection off the defender too.

Agudelo with another shot, this time from long distance (outside the box). It's a bouncer and Hirschfeld makes the diving stop to keep the ball in play. Nice dipping shot by the youngster.

1 minute of stoppage time.

I don't think Bob Bradley could possibly show any less emotion, ever. The dude is a complete robot.

Halftime: U.S. 1, Canada 0

The U.S. should have a bigger lead but I'll take it after Saturday's debacle. Altidore and Agudelo are the brightspots so far for the U.S. Canada is terrible, just as I suspected.

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet