A Gold Cup Group B Double Header from the Grand Old Opry City
The CONCACRAP Gold Cup is not exactly a gold medal winning tournament, but it provides us with our footie fix during the Summer. The Tournament started in true Gold Cup fashion with a double header from the stadium. It was two Group A matches from Red Bull arena . Today it's a double header from Nissan Stadium in Nashville. It starts with the two group favorites, which is the U.S. vs Van Halen's Panama that kicks off at 4:30 PM EDT . The second one is Martinique vs Nicaragua, kicking off at 7 PM EDT. If you are footie deprived then join us . The first match is being shown on the local Fox Affiliate and the second one is being shown on FS2.
posted by manunitedrules @ 2:39 PM
117 Comments:
Thanks for getting us going today, MUR. I'm looking forward to joining you for the festivities.
I'm settling in right now for the match. No pre-match coverage on the Fox network, so I'm watching the tail end of the Canada v. French Guiana match from last night. After being 3-0 up, Canada have just given the plucky Guineans some hope by letting two late ones in.
The US come into opening Gold Cup match heavily favored to not only win this one but the group itself, despite Bruce Arena's decision to rest a number of starters (e.g., Pulisic) for this tournament. The US' sole loss in the group stage came at the hands of Panama way back in 2011.
The team news out of Nashville's Nissan Stadium this afternoon:
United States: Guzan, Morrow, Besler, González, Villafaña, Corona, Rowe, Bedoya, McCarty, Zusi, Dwyer
Subs: Hamid, Johnson, Miazga, Lichaj, Hedges, Roldan, Acosta, Pontius, Agudelo, Arriola, Morris, Zardes
Panama Calderón, Chen, Murillo, Vargas, Ovalle, Bárcenas, Gómez, Camargo, Godoy, Torres, Díaz
Subs: Mosquera, Rodríguez, Davis, Patrick, Escobar, Miller, Cooper, Nuñez, Heraldez, Clarke, Arroyo, Pimentel
The Fox coverage is starting up right now.
Good afternoon, Bob. It's a pleasure to be able to chat with you. A ton of punditry will be need to get through this shower.
Your beloved Lexi and El Presidente in the FOX Studio.
I may be in and out because Elizabeth is grocery shopping and has been trained to follow the English domestic schedule, the World Cup and Euro schedules, but not the Gold Cup. Also, Melanie is an instrumentalist in the community and may be texting for a ride home any minute.
And Elizabeth just called. I will join you midway through the first half.
Cheers!
I'll look forward to chatting with you, mate.
The crowd at Nissan Stadium is enjoying the anthems now. The stadium looks resplendent.
Gooner will not be pleased to see Ben Hamid riding the bench today, with Big Brad Guzan favored in goal.
Sultry afternoon in Nashville - 88F as Panama get us underway. Come on the Yanks!
Oh - first shot in anger for the US clawed away by Calderon before Dwyer could get to it.
Oh - Godoy has a go from distance - not too far away.
Of those who are being given a chance to shine by Bruce Arena, the Chicago Fire midfielder Dax McCarty is perhaps the one to watch the most. He's bubbling right on the edge of a place in the squad for next summer.
Early corner now for the US. Some jostling in the box that the ref is dealing with.
English born striker Dom Dwyer is another one to watch. I can't quite see him edging out others in the forward line but if he rips it up in the tournament, he could stake a claim.
I like the idea of Graham Zusi but his final ball has got to get better at this level.
Both sides struggling to sustain momentum on a hot, humid day today. So hot, in fact, that mandatory water breaks have been ordered, the first of which will take place at 30 minutes.
Hello, mate. I'm here for the remainder of the match.
Oh - that was dicey play from Omar Gonzalez. Definitely obstruction as he didn't play the ball in the area. But those are never called these days.
It doesn't sound like I missed too much. It'
s raining here this afternoon, so it's much cooler than usual.
Welcome back, mate. You didn't miss much. Both sides are struggling in the oppressive heat, although I'm sure that 88F feels like a cool day to you, eh?
Agreed. I think its due to the fact that too many strikers have gone down like a stack of dominoes.
Thanks, mate. Correct. That is usually the temperature around dusk. It did hit 90 earlier this afternoon, but now around 80 due to the cloud cover and rain.
Oh - great chance for Rowe but he shot straight at Calderon who parried it away.
Calderon, in the Panama goal, is forced to push away a powerful shot.
End to end stuff - Camargo tried a lovely curler that Big Brad just tipped away. You came back at the right moment, mate.
Then Guzan turns around a shot from Camargo.
Sounds like it.Glad to help increase the entertainment value.
Good to see Kelyn Rowe of the Revolution getting his chance today.
Why would they schedule a match at this hour in the South in July? The evening would be much better.
First enforced water break now.
It doesn't seem wise. Why not play this one in Portland?
Now time for the mandatory water break. Too be honest it's much less humid in the country music capital than in Deep South Texas.
Agreed. Will you be around for the second match, which is the marquee match of the day?
The offside flag is raised as Panama appeared to clear for a U.S. corner.
Probably not. We're getting ready for a trip out to Syracuse early tomorrow, so we'll be packing tonight.
Decent interplay between Dwyer and Villafana there. Results in a corner.
Dom Dwyer has a shot blocked for a corner off a pass from Villafana.
Wishing you a fun and safe trip.
A long range effort from Barcenas is straight at the gut of Guzan.
Thanks, mate - just a short trip out there. Should be back in midweek.
It seems like French Guyana is the worst team in the tournament. French dressing will have a better chance of winning a match.
I'm going on a short trip tomorrow. Taking Elizabeth back to take care of her dad. Should be back in time for the two matches ,which take place in the evening.
Sacks Fifth Avenue McCArty called for a foul on Bodoy.
Dom Dwyer set through from a long throw from Guzan . he found Corona, who dwelled on the ball so long as if he had a few Coronas.
Rowe wins a fee kick by the left touchline.
Panama are proving to be no pushovers here. First half winding down.
I'm predicting that Panama will finish fourth in the hex , which would be good enough for a playoff spot against an Asian team.
Into stoppage time. Three minute of that
Oh - great knock down by Dwyer for Acosta to strike one on goal. Just wide.
Oh - Diaz nearly punked the US with a late, late strike there. Just wide.
And that's half-time.
OH!!! Diaz was just wide for Panama and then the halftime whistle blows. It's 0-0 as the heat has been a contributing factor for the lack of action.
Not at all convincing then for the US side. I still fancy the US to win this one but it will be a narrow thing.
The second half is underway from the Grand Old Opry.
We're underway in the second half, then.
Another close call for Panama. You get the feeling that it would only take a lapse in concentration for the US for a moment and that might let Panama in.
I agree.This fixture had been a traditionally tight affair./
I'm surprised that there haven't been any changes made for either side.
This should be the toughest match of the group for the U.S. A draw would be a poor result for the U.S., but should be enough to ensure qualification for the quarters.
GOAL! Dwyer comes good with his first goal for the national side!
GOAL !!!! THE BRIT GIVES THE YANKS THE LEAD WITH A GREAT FINISH
Great work there by Rowe down the left to beat his man and get a ball over for Dwyer.
1-0 US!
He actually scored on his debut last week against Ghana.
I understand that his favorite song is Rowe , Rowe, Rowe your boat. Rowe got the ball off a throw and passed in the box to Dwyer, who scored with a well placed finish,.
Sorry- I thought that the commentators mentioned that this was his first goal. My mistake.
My sources tell me that he loves to Rowe his boat down the Panama Canal.
No problem. I was Ghana to make sure to provide accurate info.
He had a tough Rowe to hoe to get that cross over for Dwyer but the kid did well.
Oh - Diaz with a sitter for the ages after Torres had pulled a great save out of Brad.
OH!! Gabby Torres nearly ties it up, forcing a great save from Guzan with a free header in the six yard box.
Oh - now it's Barcanas in for a one-on-one with Guzan. Blew it wide. It's as if Panama doesn't want to score.
The U.S. plays Martinique in a group match. Monique will have a better chance of defeating the Yanks.
Diaz gets the hook only moments after missing that chance. He'll be gutted. Arroyo on for him.
Don't imagine that Martinique will put up much of a fight. Lovely place to visit, though, from what I gather.
Abdiel Arroyo is on for Ismael Diaz. Than ks for the update, Van Halen. FYI, an arroyo is a canal
GOAL! Panama had been knocking on the door for ages now and they've tied it up.
BUGGER!!! CAMARGO TIES IT UP FOR PANAMA ON THE REBOUND AFTER GUZAN MADE A GREAT CLOSE RANGE SAVE OFF A PASS FROM BARCENAS.
Rowe got beaten down the wing and Guzan was able to save one shot resulting from the cross but not the second by Torres.
1-1 Game on!
Oh - could easily have been 1-2 Panama there. US looking really shaky in the back now.
Corona came off, replaced by Agudelo. Not sure that's the change that was needed.
Barcenas beat Rowe too easily and Guzan made a super close range reflex save from Gabby Torres before Camargo put away the rebound. Poor marking by Zusi on Torres.
Bit better now from the Yanks, with Agudelo putting over a couple of decent balls.
Aguadelo posing a threat as he passed to Dwyer, whose shot was blocked
All hands to the deck in the canal as the U.S. have a couple of shots blocked.
Game opening up now.
It's been a much better second half indeed.
A broken oar as Rowe is down after a collision with big Panamanian keeper, Calderon
He is replaced by Zardes.
Armando Cooper on for Camrgo, the goal scorer.
The US need one more final push to win this one.
Now Carillo is down for Panama.
We're a couple of minutes away from the water break.
Some of these players look like they need a break.
Gomez fouls Dwyer about two feet away from Bruce Arena.
It doesn't seem as if there will be be that second half water break.
The final roll of the dice for David Lee Roth's Boyz as Josiel Nunez is on for Gabby Gomez.
They seem to have skipped it - has it cooled down?
It may have a degree or two. Hard to say.
Come on, the Yanks - one more big push!
Never a pen. Bedoya went down far too easily.
Jordan Morris comes on for Bedoya.
That would have been a perfect cross from Zardes if Dwyer was as tall as Wilt Chamberlain.
The final roll of the dice from Bruce Arena as the pie eater is on for Bedoya.
If only, eh?
Yes for both, LOL!
The Pie eater was set free down the left, but his cross was overcooked.
Barcenas is now down and if he's really crocked then that hurts Panama, who are out of subs.
A trio of minutes of stoppage time.
This one seems to be heading for a draw.
Acosta is down in the final minute of stoppage time.
Agreed. They're drawing blanks.
It finishes a 1-1 draw.
Wishing you a great trip. it was great chatting with you. Off to take Elizabeth shopping at Beall's
That's it. Probably the toughest match in the group, but a 1-1 draw is not really good enough. If the US can't polish off the likes of Panama, how can they expect to take on the big boys of Europe and South America next summer?
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