FC Dallas’ Kenny Cooper scores game-winning PK to put USA in Gold Cup semifinals

by PegNews wire

FC Dallas' star forward Kenny Cooper became the big name in the U.S. National Team's victory over Panama on Saturday night, when he scored a penalty kick goal in overtime to take his side to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals.

In the fairly hard-fought match, there were 39 fouls and six cautions handed out in the second quarterfinal game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Panama, a wild-card entry into the quarterfinals, got on the scoreboard first just before the half. Blas Perez finished a corner kick that made its way from Felipe Baloy's head, to Chad Marshall's foot, and to Stuart Holden's chest before Perez blasted it home.

But the Americans didn't stay down for long. They'd barely run off that locker room stench before grabbing the equalizer just four minutes into the second half. Kyle Beckerman scored a beauty from the edge of the "18" to get his first career international goal and to bring the match even.

A slew of opportunities followed for the U.S. to grab another goal in regulation, but they all fell short. Cooper had a couple of headers that missed the mark, including one from eight yards out. But he found the net finally in overtime. After taking Roman Torres' boot to the stomach in the penalty box, Cooper set up his shot and glanced it off the post for the goal.

The U.S. will face Honduras, who beat Canada earlier in the first match of Saturday's doubleheader, in the Gold Cup semifinal on July 23. The U.S. beat Honduras 2-0 earlier in the first round.

The second set of quarterfinal matches will take place on Sunday in Dallas: Costa Rica vs. Guadeloupe (3 p.m.) and Mexico vs. Haiti (6 p.m.).

Posted by Erin