The U.S. Men’s National Team used Dom Dwyer’s first-time effort in the 50th minute to earn a 1-1 draw with Panama in front of a Tennesse-state record crowd of 47,622 in its opening match of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The USA moves on to its second Group B encounter where it will face Martinique on Wednesday, July 12 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (9 p.m. ET on FS1, UniMas and UDN).
Despite hot and humid mid-day conditions in the Music City, the U.S. collected numerous first-half chances from Kelyn Rowe, Kellyn Acosta and Dwyer, but went into halftime locked 0-0 with Los Canaleros.
It took little time for the score board to move after the break, when a lovely piece of skill from Rowe allowed the winger enough space to send a centering pass for Dwyer, who first-timed his effort off the right post for his second goal in as many matches five minutes after the restart.
The goal lit a fire under the Panama attack and the U.S. lead would stand for just 10 minutes before Gabriel Torres’ first-time effort was kept out with a reaction stop by Brad Guzan, only to see Miguel Camargo scrape home the rebound in the 60th minute.
The U.S. had a late penalty shout in the 80th minute when Alejandro Bedoya did well to beat Luis Ovalle down the right and break into the box in full stride before the U.S. captain was shoved down by the Panama defender, but the appeals were to no avail.
Fellow Group B opponents Martinique and Nicaragua kicked off the second match of the double header shortly after the USA-Panama clash.
