Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey, along with former Homegrown Player DeAndre Yedlin, entered Monday’s match at halftime with the U.S. National Team trailing 1-0 to Panama. Just 10 minutes later, the match was tied due in part to Dempsey’s creativity and playmaking ability.
Dempsey was one of two players to pick up an assist on Michael Bradley’s goal that earned a point for the USMNT at Sporting Park in Kansas City. After a combination play between he and Gyasi Zardes near the edge of the box, Dempsey poked the ball out wide to Alejandro Bedoya, who found a wide-open Bradley six yards in front of the goal on a well-placed cross.
As a result, the USMNT finishes atop Group A with seven points in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Dempsey scored or assisted on all four of the team’s goals in the group stage, and Sounders FC teammate Brad Evans appeared at right back in both of the team’s two victories.
The Americans are now 12-1-3 all-time against Panama, the nation that lost to the USA in the final of the 2013 Gold Cup. Los Canaleros had lost six consecutive games to the Stars and Stripes prior to Monday’s result.
The USA will play its quarterfinal fixture in Baltimore on Saturday, a match that could come against Sounders FC midfielder Marco Pappa and the Guatemalan National Team. Guatemala will likely need to earn three points in its game against Cuba on Wednesday in order to advance.
