U.S Takes Care of Business, 3-0

They weren’t on a sightseeing trip, that’s for sure. Not to the Canal. Not to the Bridge of the Americas. Not to the rain forest. Not to the offshore islands.

Not anywhere, in fact, but to red-ringed Estadio Rommel Fernandez, where the U.S. soccer team Wednesday night swept to a 3-0 victory over Panama to put itself in an excellent position to qualify for next summer’s World Cup in Germany.

Fielding a lineup whose only instruction was to attack and then attack again, the U.S. got first-half goals from Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan and Brian McBride and won, if not with ease then certainly without undue concern.

Two victories in their remaining five matches should be enough to see the Americans qualify for Germany ’06.

At the start, the small stadium was throbbing, the pulse provided at first by a sound system with the bass turned to full volume. Later it was an enthusiastic group of drummers in the estimated crowd of 17,000 hammering out an intermittent beat that, according to one Panamanian journalist, was intended to inspire the Canaleros to play like Brazil.

It didn’t work.

Almost every fan wore red. Even a muscular and muzzled Rottweiler, kept on a short leash by a police dog-handler on the track surrounding the field, sported a red bandana.

And all this in cloying heat and humidity that sapped everything but the energy of the fans.

Bruce Arena, the U.S. coach, with little to lose and much to gain, fielded a starting lineup that was attack-minded in the extreme.

Kasey Keller started in goal, while the back line featured Steve Cherundolo at right back, Eddie Pope and Bocanegra in the center and Frankie Hejduk, normally a right back, reprising his 2002 World Cup role at left back.

In midfield, Arena started Kerry Zavagnin as the defensive midfielder, with Steve Ralston wide right and Pat Noonan wide left.

Up front were McBride as the point man, with Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley operating right behind him.

It was a starting 11 that promised an adventurous evening, and possibly a long one for the Canaleros, who needed to win to retain a realistic chance of reaching Germany ’06.

Donovan said a few days before the match that Arena likes to field teams that are aggressive.

“We need that,” Donovan said. “We need players like that. It’s fun for us because you always have people getting in the box, you always have people getting in front of the goal, and it gives you chances to score.

“We have to have a killer instinct. This is a chance to really, really separate ourselves and we have to take advantage of that.”

The victory left the Americans with a 4-1 record and 12 points, one behind first-place Mexico, which defeated Trinidad and Tobago, 2-0, Wednesday night. Panama, meanwhile, fell to 0-3-2 with two points, all but out of contention in the six-nation group.

Costa Rica defeated Guatemala, 3-2, in the night’s other game in the North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) region.

With only ties at home against Mexico and Guatemala to their credit and only two home games left, the Canaleros desperately needed to win. It was not to be.

It took only six minutes for the U.S. to undermine their hopes and their confidence.

A Donovan corner kick from the left was headed in by Bocanegra, the ball going in off the hand of Panamanian goalkeeper Donaldo Gonzalez and the U.S. was on its way.

In the 20th minute Ralston sent a cross in from the right and Donovan, 10 yards out, headed the ball superbly into the far corner to increase the U.S. advantage. It was the Galaxy star’s seventh goal in 13 qualifying games for Germany ’06 and his 22nd goal in 64 national team matches.

Twelve minutes later, Panama came within inches of scoring when a blazing shot by Jose Garces slammed into the left post.

Five minutes before halftime, McBride made it 3-0 when he hammered home the rebound of a long-range Hejduk shot that had been blocked by defender Felipe Baloy. The crowd quieted down. The handwriting was on the wall.

Two exceptional second-half saves by Gonzalez off Donovan and McBride kept the score respectable for Panama, but the outcome was never in doubt.