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The United States plays Panama today in a CONCACAF Gold Cup Third Place match. Both teams surely expected to be playing the final and must be disappointed to be in the Third Place match.
The U.S. and Panama faced each other earlier in the tournament in Group A play. That match ended in a 1-1 draw. Panama and the U.S. will be desperate for a victory after disastrous semifinal results.
In the semifinals, the U.S. was simply outplayed by Jamaica and lost 2-1. Panama on the other hand can legitimately claim that it was robbed of a place in the final. In Panama's semifinal match against Mexico, Mark Geiger awarded a penalty to Mexico in stoppage time.
Mexico converted the penalty, tying the game and sending to extra time. Ultimately, Mexico won the match 2-1. The penalty looked to be incorrectly awarded and the president of CONCACAF, Alfredo Hawit admitted that Mark Geiger made "officiating errors" in that match (Yahoo News).
Expect a tense and physical affair. Despite the USMNT's poor play against Jamaica, I expect it to win 2-1. If the U.S. doesn't win this match Jurgen Klinsmann will certainly be in danger of losing his job.
U.S. v. Panama
When: 4 p.m. ET, Saturday, July 25th
Where: PPL Park, Chester, Pennsylvania
TV: Fox Sports 2, Univision, Sportsnet World (Canada)
Online: Fox Sports Go, Fox Sports 2 Go, Univision Deportes En Vivo, Sportsnet World Now (Canada)