CONCACAF Gold Cup: Panama shock US, Canada win

A pair of first-half goals have helped Panama to a shock 2-1 win over the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday.

Panama’s win means Bob Bradley’s side – who reached the last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup – must at least draw with Guadeloupe in their final group stage clash to assure themselves of third position.

With two of the third-placed sides in the three groups reaching the quarter-finals and the fact that Guadeloupe have lost both of their matches, the US are still well placed to qualify.

But the US will be aware it will be potentially do-or-die in their final match, after they paid the price for beginning slowly against Panama.

Panama striker Luis Tejada tucked away a 19th-minute opener and his side’s lead was doubled nine minutes before half-time when Gabriel Gomez converted from the spot.

The US were expected to come out firing in the second half and they did, finding the back of the net in the 66th minute through Clarence Goodson.

That left the favourites with 24 minutes to snare an equaliser. But despite their best efforts, they were kept out by Panama.

In the day’s other match, Dwayne De Rosario’s 51st-minute penalty handed Canada a 1-0 win against a 10-man Guadeloupe.

The losers had defender Jean-Luc Lambourde sent off after four minutes and were always up against it, with New York Red Bulls attacking midfielder De Rosario converting his spot-kick after Stephane Zubar had given away the penalty.