USA Vs. Panama Recap & Highlights: USMNT Powers Past Panama 2-0 [VIDEO]

CARSON, CA -- The United States Men’s National Soccer team used a mix of veteran leadership infused with fledgling youth to climb back into the win column on Sunday. The U.S. got goals from Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey as they defeated CONCACAF rival Panama 2-0 in an International friendly.

The 27^th ranked Americans were favorites over the Central American side, but have struggled as of late, winless in their last five contests and falling in their first match of the New Year, 3-2 to Chile in Rancagua last week.

Team USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has been experimenting with the roster and the formations during Winter camp and chose to start rookies DeAndre Yedlin, Miguel Ibarra and Gyasi Zardes on Sunday along with veterans Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore.

“We needed to get back to winning ways and get the confidence that we can go into games and get the right result,” said Dempsey after the match. “We had a little bit of a drop in form since the World Cup, but it’s about trying new faces with experienced players to get your best lineup for the Gold Cup.”

Klinsmann went with a 4-4-2 formation to start the game, choosing to start Jones at center back on defense. Jones struggled mightily in his new position against Chile when the team unveiled a new 3-5-2 formation during the first half of that game.

Michael Bradley did his best David Beckham impression in the 28^th minute when he bent a corner kick into the far post in spectacular fashion. Panama goalkeeper, Jamie Penedo, didn’t stand a chance, as the “Olimpico” goal was intended for Altidore, but slid just inside the far post for the first goal of the game.

“We trained those corners the other day, so it’s nice to see a set piece go in when you do the extra work before the game,” said Klinsmann of Bradley’s Olimpico goal.

Captain America struck Panama in the 38^th minute when Dempsey sprinted past the Los Canaleros defense and juked Penedo for the second goal of the game. Local star Gyasi Zardes fed Dempsey with a beautiful pass that split two Panamanian defenders essentially giving Dempsey a layup of a goal.

“I saw Clint make an amazing run towards goal and I had to feed him,” said the hometown hero Zardes who was also named the Man of the Match. “I fed him the ball, and sure enough he put it away.”

The Americans have an unhealthy habit of fading in the second half of matches as they did during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and again in their match to Chile last week, but stayed focused during the final 45 minutes on Sunday at StubHub Center as they continued to attack and kept a clean sheet throughout the game.

With a two-goal lead, Klinsmann cleaned out his bench, making all six of his allotted substitutions in the second half. Many of the substitutions were familiar to the Los Angeles crowd who watched the Stars and Stripes play on the home turf of the LA Galaxy. MLS stars, Matt Hedges, Lee Nguyen, Sean Johnson, Luis Gil, Perry Kitchen and Chris Wondolowski all made second half appearances for team USA.