The U.S. national team missed three consecutive spot kicks as it finished the CONCACAF Gold Cup in fourth place
CHESTER, Pa. -- There is a place on the spectrum of punishments reserved for the prospect of playing extra time and heading to penalties in a third-place game. It is an undesirable fate in the wake of a semifinal defeat and 90 further minutes to reinforce that fury, but the United States national team succumbed to it nevertheless after offering a listless display and failing to sort out its business against Panama.
Luis Mejia compounded the misery by making two stops during the penalty shootout to give Panama a 3-2 triumph on spot kicks after the CONCACAF Gold Cup third-place match finished 1-1 after extra time.