US set to meet Panama in Gold Cup quarterfinals

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two years ago, the United States defeated Panama in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup en route to its fourth title. If the U.S. hopes to defend its championship, it will have to beat Panama again.

"Our preparation is the same and we have great respect for Panama," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said Tuesday. "Many of their players are the same. We will take the same approach as we do with the national team in preparation for Saturday's game."

The U.S. plays Panama in the quarterfinal round Saturday at 8 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field. Canada and Honduras will meet in the first quarterfinal matchup at 5 p.m.

The U.S. was 2-0-1 in Group B play through the first round and tied Haiti 2-2 last Saturday in Foxboro, Mass. The Americans, looking for their third consecutive title in the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, finished first in Group B.

The Americans are 23-0-2 in Gold Cup group play. Stuart Holden, a midfielder for MLS' Houston Dynamo, preserved the unbeaten record with a 25-foot shot past Haiti goalkeeper Jean Dominque Zephirin in the first minute of second-half injury time to force the tie.

"I don't think there is added pressure on us," Bradley said. "Our preparation and focus is always the same. We take the same approach. It's exciting to be defending champions. With that, comes pressure at game time. I think its a good way to go about our work."

Panama earned a spot in the quarterfinals with a 4-0 victory over short-handed Nicaragua in a Group C match last Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Substitute Luis Tejada scored a pair of goals while Blas Perez and Gabriel Gomez added one goal each for Panama. Nicaragua played the second half with 10 men after Franklin Lopez was ejected for kicking Gomez in the second minute of injury time.

In addition to the 2007 loss, Panama lost to the U.S. on penalty kicks in the championship game of the 2005 Gold Cup.

Panama coach Gary Stempel said his club is very confident as these two familiar opponents prepare to play once again.

"We've got the base of a very strong squad," Stempel said. "Two previous losses to the United States is somewhat of a motivation for us to change the result."

In the other quarterfinals, Mexico meets Haiti and Guadeloupe meets Costa Rica Sunday in Dallas.

The semifinals will be held July 23 in Chicago with the championship game set for Sunday, July 26 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.