Gold Cup: U.S. Beats Panama 1-0, Advances to Final Showdown With Mexico

Message sent. Landon Donovan was benched. He never gets benched. His entire stateside career he has been too talented for MLS and too talented for the USMNT. He has never fought for his place. So, it was a definite surprise when, with his delicate parts suspended over a grill pan, Bob Bradley decided now was the time to bench him. Fortunately, it worked.

Donovan came on for the stumbling Kljestan in the second half with a renewed fire. He wasn’t brilliant for 45 minutes, but he was brilliant in the one moment he needed to be, hopping on Freddy Adu’s cross and delivering a sublime netmeg ball to Dempsey for the goal. Just speculating here, but he probably returns to starting eleven for the final.

Triumphant return? Freddy Adu finally saw the field, coming on for Juan Agudelo in the second-half. He played an excellent ball to Donovan that set up the U.S. goal. It was a lovely moment, but hold off on the praise. Freddy is what we thought he is. His technique with the ball in space was never in question. He’s gifted. It’s why he has been given so many opportunities. The dilemma, for the U.S. and his multiple club teams, always has been where to play him.

Freddy is too frail to play centrally. Teams learn quickly to close down on him and muscle him off the ball. MLS coaches tried moving him to the wing, but he gets frustrated there without the ball and doesn’t move well. He also offers absolutely nothing defensively. Theoretically, a coach could construct a team with Adu as a focal point, but he hasn’t proven he’s worth that. His deficiencies take so much to mask it’s easier just not to play him.

Adu could be interesting heading toward Brazil as a change of pace sub in matches where the U.S. will hold possession (like last night). Though, that’s likely his ceiling.

Mexico needed extra-time to beat Honduras, but there are two things worth remembering. Honduras is much better than Panama. Also, you worry about a team when it isn’t creating chances. El Tri created opportunities consistently, they just weren’t finishing them. If the U.S. offers the Mexicans the same share of the game they offered their previous opponents, they will be throttled.

[Photo via Getty]