NEW YORK: The United States gave up a lead to draw 1-1 with Panama on Saturday to open Group B action in the Concacaf Gold Cup in Nashville, Tennessee.
English-born striker Dom Dwyer scored for the United States — his second goal in as many matches for his adopted country putting the US up 1-0 in the 50th minute.
But Bruce Arena’s men couldn’t make the lead stand up as Miguel Camargo answered for Panama to insure the two strongest teams in the group shared the points.
That opened the door for Martinique to finish the day atop the group B standings after a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua.
Excellent work from Kelyn Rowe on the left side set up Sporting Kansas City forward Dwyer, who became a US citizen just three months ago, pursuing his football dream Stateside after he was told he wouldn’t make it in England.
Rowe easily got past Michael Murillo and moved deep down the left flank before sending a low cross into the penalty area where Dwyer turned and fired a left-footed shot into the right-hand corner of the net.
The US goal galavanised Panama, who saw Camargo’s blast from 20 yards out go over the bar two minutes later, then saw a brilliant chance go begging when Ismael Diaz somehow fired over the bar from a couple of yards out after a header by Gabriel Torres had been saved by a diving Brad Guzan.
Edgar Barcenas also narrowly missed before the determined Panamanians pulled level.
Barcenas’ cross set up Torres, who forced Guzan into another save, but New York City FC’s Camargo was there to bury the rebound.
Few quality chances followed, although the USA thought a penalty should have been awarded in the 82nd when captain Alejandro Bedoya came down after tangling with defender Luis Ovalle. — AFP
Concacaf Gold Cup results
Group B: United States 1 (Dwyer 50) Panama 1 (Camargo 60)
Martinique 2 (Parsemain 35, Langil 66) Nicaragua 0
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
