Dos A Cero Round Two Gets USMNT Closer To Rio (UPDATE: They're In)

((HT: Univision))

The US Men's National got one step closer to making it to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after knocking off El Tri in front of a lottery-drawn 24,000-plus at Crew Stadium in Columbus.

The game could have filled a good part of the Big House over at tOSU, but the intimacy of the rowdy crowd gave the red, white, and blue their position at the top of the ladder in an automatic qualifier spot in their CONCACAF group.

Eddie Johnson ruled the air as the USA found their rhythm in set pieces and capitalized here...


There were a lot of concerns with injuries and cards taking hold of the XI- especially with Bradley missing at the back...

Diskerud hooked up with Donovan for the 2-0 lead and only Clint Dempsey airmailing a PK in stoppage time kept "Dos A Cero" at that score.

So, here was the scene in the locker room as the #USMNT was waiting for a Honduras-Panama result...
((HT: ussoccer Instagram))


A Wilson Palacios goal put the home team up 2-1
((HT: beinSportUS))


Panama scored in the first minute of stoppage time for the 2-2 draw on a great scoop shot from an overlapping Chen...
But that was the final and the US qualifies for World Cup 2014... their 7th bid...

So, the HQ guesses there's only one thing left to say...

USMNT Takes Gold Cup Title Over Panama

((HT: Fox Sports))

After another Brek Shea goal (who thought the HQ would say that regarding the USMNT offense, like, ever...???)- 42 seconds in after being called in as a substitute- the Gold Cup final went to the United States in front of 59,000 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

After only having three goals scored against them leading up to the last game in the tournament, Panama gave up one to Shea after a Landon Donovan whiff in the box.

It was almost 2-nil on this play, which gave banished USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann a coronary


Or several...

Shea got the game-winner against Costa Rica on a feed from Donovan and the two hooked up again in the final- only thing missing was the goal...

Stewart Holden was removed in the 16th minute on a sprained knee injury and he will be reevaluated after the tournament...

USMNT Fighting Uphill Vs Costa Rica In Gold Cup Group Finale (But Winning)

((HT: Fox Soccer/CONCACAF))

Okay... something had to give between the USMNT and Costa Rica- both unbeaten in their last seven...

The US dominated time of possession in the first half and had their chances early in the second...
Which included this...


Costa Rica should be playing with ten for the rest of the game, but they're not...
Scoreless in the 63rd minute...

It was a shot on goal outside the box and not a pass...

Nicely done, CONCACAF...

UPDATE: 83rd minute, this happened...


So, for now, the US wins Group C with Costa Rica second and Cuba third to advance