GOALKEEPER Luis Mejia saved three penalties in the shootout to help Panama stun the United States in the third-place playoff at the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday after the sides had ground out a 1-1 stalemate in Pennsylvania.After both teams suffered heart-breaking semi-final defeats earlier in the week, it was the Panamanians who came back stronger as they outlasted the defending Gold Cup champions at PPL Park in Chester.
The Americans had reached five consecutive Gold Cup finals before this year.
In an action-packed match, the U.S. survived repeated waves of attack by Panama during both regulation and extra time to set up the penalty shootout.
Each team converted their first two penalties before Mejia stonewalled the Americans on their next three.
He made a diving stop to his right against U.S. captain Michael Bradley, then blocked DaMarcus Beasley’s final attempt to end the match.
Panama made three of their first four attempts, with Harold Cummings scoring the last of them.
Appearing to be a much more motivated side coming into the contest, Panama took early control in regulation and after a scoreless first half they went ahead 1-0 in the 55th minute on a goal by Roberto Nurse.
Clint Dempsey tied the game for the U.S. in the 70th with his seventh goal of the tournament. DeAndre Yedlin made a nice run into the box and played the ball backwards to Dempsey, who netted home on a diving strike.
From there, the Americans withstood constant attacks by Panama.
U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who before the tournament had made a career of backing up Tim Howard, did well to keep his team alive and finished with 11 saves.
Jamaica appeared in their first-ever Gold Cup final against Mexico title at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia last night.