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U.S. sneak past Panama on penalties in Gold Cup final
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-25 08:29 The giants of the United
States were taken into a penalty shootout before beating underdogs Panama 3-1 in
the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on Sunday.
Panama dominated the second half of normal time but the match ended scoreless
after an extra 30 minutes as the sides battled for supremacy in the biennial
competition for North and Central America and the Caribbean countries.
U.S. goalkeeper and captain Kasey Keller saved the first Panama penalty from
Luis Tejada before the Central American team's second attempt from Jorge Luis
Dely Valdes hit the bar.
Although Panama's Felipe Baloy managed to score and goalkeeper Jaime Penedo
saved a weak effort by Chris Armas, the match was decided when Alberto Blanco
blazed over the bar and Brad Davis beat Penedo in the fourth round of penalties.
Santino Quaranta and Landon Donovan also scored for the Americans.
However, surprise finalists Panama, who upset Colombia 3-2 in the last four,
came close to humbling their hosts who have just climbed to a highest-ever sixth
position in the official FIFA world rankings.
In extra time, the Panamanians nearly sealed victory when Dely Valdes forced
Keller into a full-length save with a strike from 10 metres and Blanco shot
narrowly wide with goal open.
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