Panama vs. USA takes place tonight at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The game takes place at Sporting Park in Kansas and is scheduled to start at 02:30 BST.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is airing live in the United Kingdom on BT Sport 1, while you can watch and bet on live football with 365.
Preview:
With a place in the quarter-finals of the Gold Cup already assured, and a top placed finish in Group A guaranteed, USA can concentrate on improving on their recent performances when they face Panama on Monday night.
USMNT come into the game at Sporting Park with two wins to their name after beating Honduras 2-1 in their group opener, which was followed by a 1-0 victory over Haiti.The defending champions displays in those encounters failed to set the tournament, though, and Jurgen Klinsmann will be urging his side to up their game as they prepare for the knock-out phase.
Having beaten European powerhouses Germany and the Netherlands in a pre-tournament tour in Europe, more was expected of the U.S but they have been underwhelming to date, to say the least.
Clint Dempsey scored his third goal of the tournament against Haiti and remains the only American to score at the 2015 Gold Cup, while goalkeeper Brad Guzan made a spectacular second-half stop to deny Haiti a draw that they probably deserved on Friday.
However, the 1-1 draw between Panama and Honduras earlier in the evening combined with USMNT’s victory was enough for the Yanks to claim top spot and a place in the last eight.
The Americans have now won six matches in a row and have reached the knockout stage of all 13 Gold Cup tournaments.
Monday’s clash, then, will offer Klinsmann an opportunity to find a formula that will produce a more fluid display in the next round although he insists his side will not take their foot off the gas having already qualified.
“It’s a nice feeling, knowing that we are already in. But we are not slowing down,” Klinsmann said. “We know we have an influence on who’s going through. So we will not take our foot off the pedal.”
Panama need victory to ensure a second placed finish in the group and a place in the quarters after opening the tournament with back-to-back 1-1 draws.
Hernan Gomez’s charges let slip a one goal lead for the second time in as many Gold Cup games last time out against Honduras, conceding in the 81st minute when Andy Najar struck home.
