USA-Panama Verdict: Old Heads, New Blood Power Team USA's First Win Of 2015

That’s more like it from Team USA.

The United States men’s national soccer team defeated Panama 2-0 in an exhibition game Sunday. Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey scored the goals in the comfortable, but by no means comprehensive, victory. The win ended the United States’ five-game winless run, easing pressure and muting critics of the players and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

Klinsmann pointed to his players’ fitness as a primary reason for last week’s 3-2 loss against Chile and their recent struggles at the international level. The win over Panama, Team USA’s first victory in 2015, demonstrated the Americans’ ability to impose themselves on their opponents. Team USA’s mission now is to win with similar confidence and panache against stronger opposition, if possible. It still can resort to winning ugly, if necessary.

Bradley’s goal was one of the most spectacular moments in the United States’ recent history. The U.S. midfielder scored directly from a corner kick in the 27th minute, curling the dead ball over goalkeeper Jaime Penedo and into the top corner. The game was tight before Bradley’s “olimpico.” Team USA cruised after that.

Dempsey doubled the United States’ lead ten minutes after Bradley scored. Gyasi Zardes started the move in midfield, drove forward and played a well-weighted through-ball to Dempsey. The U.S. captain then rounded Penedo and poked it into the open goal before a defender could barrell him over. Dempsey’s goal was his 40th in international play, moving him into second place on Team USA’s all-time leading scorers’ list. Only Landon Donovan (57) has scored more than Dempsey for the United States.

While Dempsey, 31, and Jozy Altidore, 25, remain Team USA’s primary goal threats, Zardes, 23, introduced himself to international soccer with an impressive all-action performance in just his second international game (and first start). Zardes unsettled Panama with his speed and work rate, while creating scoring chances through vision and deft passing. Zardes, the game’s breakout star, will have a lengthy and fruitful national-team career if he maintains and regularly exceeds the level he set Sunday.

Team USA’s win over a young and experimental Panama team was an imperfect one. Either team could have had the lead before the coaches began making mass substitutions. Panama had the two best chances before Bradley struck. Nick Rimando’s quick thinking prevented Eric Davis from scoring in the 14th minute. Panama strikers Rolando Blackburn and Blas Perez combined in the 25th minute to craft another opening inside the United States penalty area. Brek Shea, a makeshift fullback, intervened at the last moment to keep “los Canaleros” off the scoreboard.

Klinsmann reverted to a four-man back line (Shea, Jermaine Jones, Matt Besler and DeAndre Yedlin) to start the game against Panama. The United States’ defense was vulnerable, and individual errors almost led to calamity more than once in the first half.

Thus concludes the United States’ January training camp and the false-start of the new FIFA World Cup cycle. Klinsmann experimented with new systems and personnel, handing national-team debuts to 10 new players (11 including Lee Nguyen) since the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Some may become national-team regulars and stars. Others’ international careers might peter out at the beginning.

Klinsmann now will begin the serious business of preparing Team USA for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup — the must-win regional championship that doubles as a ticket to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Team USA will play five difficult exhibitions games before the tournament starts.

Panama was a warm-up to build-up. The likes of Dempsey, Bradley, Jones, Besler and Altidore will form the core of the team. Other spots remain up for grabs.