Two years ago, the United States defeated Panama in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup en route to its fourth title. If the U.S. hopes to defend its championship, it will have to beat Panama again.
"Our preparation is the same and we have great respect for Panama," Coach Bob Bradley of the U.S. said yesterday. "Many of their players are the same. We will take the same approach as we do with the national team in preparation for Saturday's game."
The U.S. will play Panama in the quarterfinal round on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field. Canada and Honduras will meet in the first quarterfinal matchup at 5 p.m.
The U.S. was 2-0-1 in Group B play through the first round. It tied Haiti 2-2 last Saturday in Foxboro, Mass. The Americans, trying for their third consecutive title in the Gold Cup, finished first in Group B.
The Americans are 23-0-2 in Gold Cup group play. Stuart Holden, a midfielder for MLS' Houston Dynamo, preserved the unbeaten record with a 25-foot shot past Haiti goalkeeper Jean Dominque Zephirin in the first minute of second-half injury time to force the tie.
"I don't think there is added pressure on us," Bradley said. "Our preparation and focus is always the same. We take the same approach. It's exciting to be defending champions. With that, comes pressure at game time. I think its a good way to go about our work."
Panama got a spot in the quarterfinals with a 4-0 victory against short-handed Nicaragua in a Group C match last Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Substitute Luis Tejada scored two goals; Blas Perez and Gabriel Gomez added one goal each for Panama. Nicaragua played the second half with 10 men after Franklin Lopez was ejected for kicking Gomez.
In addition to the 2007 loss, Panama lost to the U.S. on penalty kicks in the championship game of the 2005 Gold Cup.
Coach Gary Stempel of Panama said his club is very confident as these two familiar opponents prepare to play once again.
"We've got the base of a very strong squad," Stempel said. "Two previous losses to the United States is somewhat of a motivation for us to change the result."
In the other quarterfinals, Mexico will meet Haiti and Guadeloupe will meet Costa Rica on Sunday in Dallas.
The semifinals will be held July 23 in Chicago with the championship game set for Sunday, July 26 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
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