Kansas City- On Monday night in Sporting Park in Kansas City becomes The Thunderdome. At the start of the Group A doubleheader between Honduras (0-1-1, 1 point) and Haiti (0-1-1, 1 point)7:30PM Fox Sports 1, Univision Deportes) and the United States (2-0-0, 6 points) and Panama (0-0-2, 2 points) 9:30PM EST Fox Sports 1, Univision) four teams will enter and only two will remain. A third might survive for another day but what is clear is that not everyone will enjoy their barbecue past-match.
7 July 2015: USA forward Clint Dempsey (#8) and teammates Chris Wondolowski (#18) and USA defender Ventura Alvarado (#13) celebrate Dempsey’s 2nd goal during the Gold Cup Group Stage match between the USA and Honduras at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The USA won the game 2-1.
After six matches in Group A of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup here is what we know: that the United States is going through to the next round. Despite not playing like the defending Gold Cup champions, the United States are through thanks to successive victories over Honduras (3-1) and Haiti (1-0). Clint Dempsey’s three goals has sugarcoated 180 minutes of football which at times was disconcerting and at other times depressing.
On Monday evening, the United States will play host to Panama in Sporting Park in Kansas City. Panama themselves have had a rather poor tournament thus far, dropping two points late against Haiti (1-1) and Honduras (1-1). Although they stand ahead of Honduras and Haiti in terms of the standings, their lack of scoring touch and that they are playing against the United States puts them in the most disparate position.
If Panama are to make it to the second round they are going to need to finish their opportunities. Against both Haiti and Honduras, Panama forward Blas Perez was unable to convert on even the simplest of opportunities. Perez is still able to find small gaps between the center-backs and give himself the opportunity but his first touch has placed him in difficult spots to finish his chances. The United States defense, and in particular left-back Timothy Chandler, have struggled with tracking during this tournament.
On the other side of the pitch look for Jozy Altidore to have more of a presence during this match. Panama’has kept matches close during this Gold Cup by using their technical prowess and advantage in strength.Altidore has faced smaller, quicker defenders during this tournament but has never really run into a more traditional defense. Altidore is at his best when he is playing against defenders who match his size but lack the creativity.
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Of course, whether or not Panama does make it to the next round may already be determined prior to kick-off. For the first match Haiti will take on Honduras. Entering into this tournament it was expected that the United States and Panama would nab the two automatic spots into the knockout round. But with both countries getting surprising draws (and Haiti holding the U.S.A. to a goal) this match now has added important.
For both sides, wide play wil be a huge factor into determining who finishes on top. For Honduras that means getting Andy Najar involved in the match. Najar seems to have finally turned the page in his international career with two excellent performances against the United States and Panama. In both matches the for D.C. United Youth Academy Product used his speed and creativity to weave through defenses. His confidence also seems to have improved, as evidenced by his follow-up goal on a missed PK against Panama.
For Haiti meanwhile their best work will come on the counter-attack. Their lone goal of the tournament came off of a late run by Duckens in the 1-1 draw with Panama. Haiti is one of the fastest teams in the Gold Cup but because of squad depth cannot matchd opponenets with deeper benches punch for punch. After years of a sterling record, the Honduran defense has shown its age during this tournament, missing assignments and not following back after attacking runs. Honduran center-back Maynor Figueroa must keep his line together or the speed of Haiti may catch them.
