07 October, 2017
Bobby Wood erased any doubt of a Panama comeback when he one-timed it past Panamanian goalkeeper Jaime Penedo early in the second half.
"The better collection of players we have around Christian", said Arena, "he's just going to be a better player".
"I thought we were smart in how we went about it", Bradley said on Friday night.
The four goals marked the most Panama has given up in a World Cup qualifier since a 6-0 loss to the U.S.in October 2004 - and was one short of the five goals it had allowed in its eight previous games in this cycle combined.
Playing as the tip of a 4-4-2 diamond, he was instrumental in orchestrating a blistering USA counter-attack against Panama's wide open formation, scoring the first goal and assisting Jozy Altidore on the second.
The U.S. will conclude its 2018 World Cup qualifying cycle on Tuesday at Trinidad and Tobago. "Across the board, we had guys ready for a big game and come through in a huge way". "I don't think they were able to deal with it".
The pressure was all on the U.S., who had earned just one point from their last two matches - a dispiriting home defeat to Costa Rica followed by an edgy 1-1 draw in Honduras.
Gomez said Pulisic was the difference in the game.
"Now we have to finish it off Tuesday in Trinidad".
Tim Howard was in goal, and DeAndre Yedlin returned to right back after recovering from a hamstring injury. There were questions as to what formation the U.S. would play; three at the back, a flat 4-4-2 with questions about who would pair with Michael Bradley, or something else. Pulisic jumped to avoid defender Roman Torres' challenge and used the outside of his right foot to play the ball forward. And it was Pulisic's ankle-breaking drive that created space down the left wing before his cross hit Altidore for a ruthlessly efficient finish and a 2-0 lead.
Altidore gave the US its third goal right before half-time from the penalty spot, chipping cheekily past Penedo from 12 yards away after Wood had been hauled down in the area.
Pulisic's contribution on 19 minutes was equally impressive.
"Jozy just laid it off to me and I was just gone, I guess", Pulisic said. "And come through in a huge way", added Bradley of a US team that gave it most complete effort of the qualifying tournament, putting eight shots on goal while giving up just two.
Wood drew the penalty kick after he exchanged passes with Paul Arriola along a flank, broke past Felipe Baloy, spurted diagonally into the penalty area and was pushed down by Armando Cooper.
Hacked down several times by Panamanians, Pulisic was removed in the 57th minute and walked off to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 25,303 at Orlando City Stadium, which opened in February, Wood added his 10th worldwide goal off a pass from Arriola. "But the job isn't quite done yet".
However, Hirving Lozano got the equalizer after 78 minutes and Javier Hernandez popped up to save Mexico's blushes two minutes from time.
