Gold Cup Final

One Goal, but Plenty for U.S. to Celebrate in Gold Cup Final

CHICAGO —Landon Donovan did not score the objective that secured a title for the United States in the Gold Cup, a competition that will be recalled for his come back to the national group and the national stage. Nor was he credited with the aid. 

Donovan was, in any case, both the driving power and the imaginative executive behind the objective on Sunday, as he has been for the majority of what his group has finished in the previous not many weeks. 

In a scoreless diversion checked by lazy play and a moderate pace, the United States got through against Panama in the 69th moment when Alejandro Bedoya sent a focusing pass around the objective mouth. Donovan ran past the ball, incidentally pulling a counterfeit move that solidified goalkeeper Jaime Penedo and set up Brek Shea for a tap-in objective. 

"I took a forceful swing at it and missed," Donovan said. 

The 1-0 triumph secured the fifth Gold Cup title for the United States before an affirmed swarm of 57,920 at Soldier Field. 

In the same way that this competition checked Donovan's return, it was a landing of sorts for his mentor, Jurgen Klinsmann. The win was a record eleventh consecutively for the United States and earned Klinsmann his first trophy since he assumed control for Bob Bradley two summers back, a month after the United States lost to Mexico in the final Gold Cup last. 

Klinsmann was not on the seat Sunday; he was compelled to watch from a suite after he was suspended for his launch from Wednesday's elimination round charm Honduras. Yet he joined his players on the field after the amusement. 

"Viewing the diversion was horrendous," he said. "They gave me a superb Champagne shower." 

Klinsmann included: "It's generally great to win a trophy. In any case we need to win in a manner that you merit it, and this was the best group in the Gold Cup." 

The United States had progressed to the last on the quality of a dynamic offense and a combative mark of soccer pushed by Klinsmann, scoring a group record 19 objectives in the competition. 

That pace and a great part of the style was lost for a large portion of Sunday's diversion. Maybe it was Klinsmann's nonattendance, the natural nerves that go hand in hand with a last or the rival —Panama, and not archrival Mexico. There were numerous Mexico pullovers in the stands fitting in with fans clearly disillusioned that their group had neglected to development. 

The last was level from the begin and without quality scoring risks until a Damarcus Beasley cross in the 56th moment was headed wide by Donovan. Shea swapped Joe Corona in the 68th moment and scored less than a moment later. Panama had mounted minimal offense before Shea's strike —it didn't enroll a shot —and that didn't change after it. 

What this triumph methods is far from being obviously true. As Klinsmann has said, "Concacaf is not the World Cup." It does guarantee that the United States will play the champ of the 2015 Gold Cup for a spot in the 2017 Confederations Cup. Anyway just a couple of players from this squad are liable to be in Brazil for the World Cup afterward summer. 

Donovan's status had been indeterminate since he took a leave of nonappearance from his club and the national group a year ago. After he was recompensed the Golden Ball as the most important player of the competition for his five objectives and seven supports, it was essentially unimaginable that he might not be chosen for one year from now's World Cup. 

"He earned each compliment he got this competition," Klinsmann said. Of Donovan's status for September's World Cup qualifiers, he said, "There is a high likelihood he goes along with us." 

Panama made its first presence in a Gold Cup last since 2005, when the story lines were astoundingly comparative to Sunday's. At that point, the United States was without its mentor, Bruce Arena, who was suspended after he was catapulted from an elimination round win. 

On that day, the United States required extra shots to thrashing Panama at Giants Stadium. Ninety minutes were sufficient Sunday, as the United States guaranteed its first Gold Cup since 2007. The Americans had lost the past two finals to Mexico. 

There was one negative Sunday. Stuart Holden, who tore his foremost cruciate ligament in 2011 then afterward reinjured it when he tried to return later that year, left in the 23rd moment in the wake of blasting knees with Alberto Quintero. Klinsmann said Holden may have an alternate one genuine damage. 

Generally, the Americans were looking forward. 

"This is not the close," Donovan said. "It's the finish of tournament, but hopefully this is just the beginning for a lot of us.”