Bruce Arena to ESPN: “I was very confident in this group. We’ve come a long way since November 2016 and in good position to hopefully to get the third spot. I think Panama will beat Costa Rica so we need a result in Trinidad.”
A comfortable win for the US, who are one win (against Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday) from reaching next year’s World Cup finals. Panama, meanwhile, must quickly regroup if they are to gain a play-off spot ahead of Honduras, who play Costa Rica tomorrow.
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47min: Pulisic is hacked again by a Panama player. This could be a theme for the rest of the game. ESPN commentator Taylor Twellman says Arena should sub the wonder kid immediately to ensure his health for the Trinidad & Tobago match.
45min: The referee blows his whistle for half-time. The US are cruising here. Surely they will try to bring on some more defensive minded players to ensure the lead.
31min: Panama are very much still in this game, though, with the US still somewhat shaky at the back. You would think the home side need at least one more to ensure victory.
Pulisic this time turns provider, expertly beating his man down the left and crosses to Altidore who has the simplest of tasks to tap home. Tensions ease for the US. Pulisic is some player – he deserves to play on the biggest stage and he is doing everything to make sure he will be in Russia next summer.
The players are coming out onto the pitch. Kick-off is fast approaching. “This game is monumental for Panama,” says Ian Darke. “Can they grab the chance after their hearts were broken by the US four years ago?”
The president of Panama (Juan Carlos Varela) is at Orlando City Stadium and virtually the entire country back at home, we are told, are watching tonight as Los Canaleros look to reach the World Cup for the first time.
The good people at Sports Illustrated note that nine US players will miss Tuesday’s qualifying finale at Trinidad & Tobago should they pick up a yellow card tonight: Kellyn Acosta, Paul Arriola, DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoya, Matt Besler, Michael Bradley, Geoff Cameron, Clint Dempsey and DeAndre Yedlin.
Of note, Honduras’ match against Costa Rica has been postponed until Saturday due to severe rainfall caused by tropical storm Nate, meaning the qualifying scenarios will not be fully known tonight.
Bruce Arena has – to much surprise – brought in former USA national coach Bob Bradley (now in charge of MLS newcomers LA FC) to help out for tonight’s game.
Bob Bradley chats with Paul Arriola during practice before USA’s clash with Panama at Orlando City Stadium. Photograph: John Dorton/ISI/REX/Shutterstock
Syria – whose World Cup run has captured the imagination amid a bloody civil war – came from behind to grab a controversial first-leg draw against Australia in Malacca on Thursday. The second leg is in Sydney on Tuesday, on the same day the US face Trinidad and Tobago in their final Concacaf qualifier.
Nervous? Many United States supporters certainly are ahead of tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Panama in Orlando. After dismal performances against Costa Rica and Honduras in their previous two qualifiers, Bruce Arena’s men still have their fate in their own hands but now there is almost no margin for error.
The US are one of only seven countries who have reached every World Cup since 1990 but a place in an eighth consecutive tournament is far from certain, with just two Concacaf qualifiers to go. It is, to quote Sir Alex Ferguson, squeaky bum time.
With the US leading a joint bid with Mexico and Canada to host the 2026 World Cup – and overwhelming favourites to be named hosts by Fifa next year – missing out on Russia 2018 would be devastating for the growth of the game in North America. So there is understandable pressure on Arena to secure victory against Panama tonight.
A draw or defeat means the best the US can hope for is a two-legged play-off against either Australia or Syria. And even that is not guaranteed, with Honduras still in the running for qualification.
Panama, for their part, can qualify for the World Cup for the first time in their history by beating the Americans so there is plenty at stake tonight.
Bob will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s what Alexi Lalas had to say about the US’s woes last month:
The former USA international Alexi Lalas launched a tirade against Bruce’s Arena’s team on Sunday, calling the players “underperforming, tattooed millionaires.”
After a string of mediocre results, the US could face a playoff against Syria or Australia to qualify for next year’s World Cup – if they make it that far in the first place.
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Kyle Schnitzer
