USA draw with Panama in Gold Cup opener

THE United States gave up an equaliser to draw 1-1 with Panama on Saturday to open Group B action in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Nashville, Tennessee.

English-born striker Dom Dwyer scored for the United States – his second goal in as many matches for his adopted country putting the US up 1-0 in the 50th minute.

But Bruce Arena’s men couldn’t make the lead stand as Miguel Camargo answered for Panama to ensure the two strongest teams in the group shared the points.

That opened t he door for Martinique to finish the day at t he top of t he g roup B standings af ter a 2-0 v ictor y over Nicaragua.

Excellent work from Kelyn Rowe on the left side set up Sporting Kansas City forward Dwyer, who became a US citizen just three months ago, pursuing his football dream Stateside after he was told he wouldn’t make it in England.

Rowe easily got past Michael Mur i l lo a nd moved de ep dow n t he lef t f la n k before sending a low cross into the pena lt y a rea where Dw yer turned and f ired a lef t-footed shot into t he right-hand corner of t he net.

The US goal galavanised Panama, who saw Camargo’s blast from 20 yards out go over the bar two minutes later, then saw a brilliant chance go begging when Ismael Diaz some- how fired over the bar from a couple of yards out after a header by Gabriel Torres had been saved by a diving Brad Guzan.

Edgar Barcenas also narrowly missed before the determined Panamanians pulled level.

Barcenas’s cross set up Torres, who forced Guzan into another save, but New York City FC’s Camargo was there to bury the rebound.

The US, five-time winners of the regional championship, will be aiming to sharpen up defensively when they face Martinique on Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, where Nicaragua and Panama will also clash.

“There’s positives to take from the game,” Dwyer said. “We’re definitely disappointed not to get three points. But there’s a lot to build on.”

Curacao take on Jamaica, while Mexico face El Salvador in Group C today.