SOCCER : Dooley Gets Goal and Assist as U.S. Defeats Panama, 2-1

Thomas Dooley’s goal in the 73rd minute completed a second-half comeback Wednesday night as the U.S. national soccer team edged Panama, 2-1, in a CONCACAF Group A second-round Cold Cup match.

Dooley, set up near the right goalpost, took a crossing pass from Roy Wegerle in the air and directed the ball past Panamanian goalkeeper Ricardo James.

Dooley also assisted on Eric Wynalda’s tying goal five minutes earlier.

After the game, Panama Coach Saul Suarez was livid, insisting Dooley was offsides on the game-winner.

“It was completely offsides,” Suarez said. “It’s something that should have been reversed.”

U.S. assistant coach Timo Liekoski saw things differently.

“As far as I’m concerned, the goal was legitimate,” Liekoski said.

After trailing for most of the game, the U.S. drew even in the 68th minute when Wynalda took a pass from Dooley and right-footed a 15-yard shot past James.

Panama, considered the weakest member of the four-team Group A draw, got the U.S.’s attention early, taking a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute when Percibal Piggott dashed up the left side and left-footed a shot along the ground and past goalkeeper Tony Meola.

“We didn’t come out on the right foot,” Wynalda said. “We couldn’t string passes together. But after the first goal, we started playing like we’re used to.”

In the first game, Jamaica upset Honduras, 3-1, as Paul Davis scored the go-ahead goal in the 48th minute and later assisted on an insurance goal by Walter Boyd.