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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Jozy Altidore, one of the United States men’s soccer team’s stalwarts, rescued a listless game against Panama on Wednesday night. His bicycle kick goal off a corner kick in the second half was the difference in a 1-0 United States victory, helping the Americans top their Gold Cup group and advance to face Curacao in the quarterfinals in Philadelphia on Sunday night.
United States coach Gregg Berhalter started an unchanged lineup in the first two games of the regional tournament — victories against Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago — but opted for a wholesale change against Panama, starting 11 new players.