Panama players celebrate their bronze medal win over the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup third place match at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, Saturday.— Reuters
CHESTER, Pennsylvania — Backup goalkeeper Luis Mejia saved two penalties in the shootout as an inspired Panama team ended a trying week with a medal at the Gold Cup, beating the United States in the third-place game Saturday.
Panama won the shootout 3-2 after extra time ended with the score 1-1. Mejia saved DaMarcus Beasley's shot in the fifth round in what might have been the veteran defender's last game for the US.
Panama was on the verge of beating Mexico in Wednesday's semifinals despite being down to 10 men but was called for a disputed hand ball in the area. Mexico converted the penalty in stoppage time, then scored on another penalty in extra time for the 2-1 win.
The Panamanian federation's president later alleged the match was fixed, and players were seen arriving at PPL Park in suburban Philadelphia Saturday wearing T-shirts that read, “Dignity isn't bought.”
It was a disappointing Gold Cup for the Americans, who came into the tournament as favorites to repeat as champions after beating Panama in the 2013 final. But they were stunned by Jamaica in the semis and had their worst Gold Cup finish since losing to Colombia during a shootout in the 2000 quarterfinals.
After the US squandered a two-goal lead in a 4-2 loss to Mexico in the 2011 Gold Cup final, Bob Bradley was fired as coach, leading to Jurgen Klinsmann's hire.
US Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said there were no parallels between that situation and this year's, however, noting recent friendly victories over Germany and the Netherlands.
“It's obviously a disappointment,” Gulati said. “I wouldn't call it a step back.”
Panama was missing several key players because of injury or suspension, including its top goalkeeper. But it dominated play against a sluggish US team, with 11 shots on goal to the Americans' two in regulation.
“We really worked for this game,” Panama coach Hernan Gomez said, “and we faced the world out there with our heads held high.”
Referee admits errors The president of CONCACAF said Saturday the referee acknowledged making mistakes during the contentious Gold Cup semifinal between Mexico and Panama.
The regional soccer body did not say what those errors were. Referee Mark Geiger “accepted that officiating errors had been made” and they “impacted the outcome,” CONCACAF President Alfredo Hawit said in a statement. Hawit added that “such human errors are part of the game.”
Panama was incensed by two particular calls in the loss. First, Geiger issued a disputed red card to Luis Tejada in the 25th minute. Panama still went ahead 1-0 despite playing with 10 men. But Geiger then called a hand ball when Roman Torres fell on the ball in the area, leading to Andres Guardado's penalty kick in second-half stoppage time for regional power Mexico.
Guardado won it with a penalty kick in extra time on a less debatable call. The Panamanian team posed with a banner after the game calling CONCACAF “corruptos ladrones” (corrupt thieves).
Geiger last year became the first American to referee a knockout stage World Cup match.
Hawit became president of North and Central America and the Caribbean's governing body in May after Jeffrey Webb's indictment. Webb and predecessor Jack Warner were named in a US federal indictment charging soccer officials with racketeering, bribery and money laundering.
Two Panama players — Tejada and goalkeeper Jaime Penedo — were both suspended two games by CONCACAF Friday. Penedo was disciplined for pushing the assistant referee after Wednesday's match. Along with the red card, Tejada was punished additionally for not leaving the field in a “timely manner.”
The federation also was fined an undisclosed amount for “team misconduct both on and off the field.” — Agencies
