US Men’s National Team: Bedoya comes off bench, USA draws in Panama

By Larry Henry | Mar 29, 2017

March 24, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; United States midfielder Alejandro Bedoya (11) during the first half of the Men's World Cup Soccer Qualifier against the Honduras at Avaya Stadium. United States defeated Honduras 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Following their 6-0 rout of Honduras last Friday evening in San Jose, the US Men’s National Team earned a hard-fought point on Tuesday in Panama City.

Bruce Arena‘s men had a quick turn-around in qualifiers, and knew a victory away from home would see them into the top three of the standings. Striker Clint Dempsey and midfielder Christian Pulisic sparked the US Men’s National Team on Friday and were counted on to do the same against a tougher side.

Panama had come off a disappointing 1-0 road loss to Trinidad & Tobago and knew a defeat would see them ousted from their third-place position.

The first real effort on target came off the head of Jermaine Jones in the 21st-minute, before Panama’s Alberto Quintero saw his 33rd-minute effort saved by Tim Howard.

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The breakthrough for the U.S.A. came in the 39th-minute when Dempsey’s right-footed effort found the bottom-left corner. Pulisic netted this third assist in the last two matches, while Dempsey netted his fourth goal in the last two.

However, the lead would not last for the visitors as Gabriel Gomez‘s right-footed effort four minutes later beat Howard to the center of the goal for a 1-1 equalizer.

Luis Tejada came close to breaking the deadlock just before the hour-mark but Howard again was up to the task. Philadelphia Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya came on as a 69th-minute sub for Darlington Nagbe, but it was Panama who looked the more-likeliest to net a winner.

Anibal Godoy‘s 79th-minute effort was saved by Howard, which was truly the last real threat either side posed offensively.

Despite letting their lead slip, the U.S.A. earned a crucial road point in a 1-1 draw. Howard made three saves, while Panama’s Jaime Penedo made two.

Bedoya, who came on much later than his appearance on Friday, finished the match with a 77% passing completion rate, while also made two successful clearances.

The 29-year-old now returns to Philadelphia where Jim Curtin‘s side gears up for an MLS road fixture against D.C. United on Saturday evening. The Union will try to shake off their 2-1 road defeat to Orlando City back on March 18th.

Next: US Men’s National Team travels to Panama

As the for the US Men’s National Team, they have a two-month break until CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers resume. On June 6th, they host Trinidad & Tobago before traveling to Mexico four days later.

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