One minute away from failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, Mexico received some unlikely help from their rivals to the north.Mexico will play New Zealand for a spot in next year's World Cup despite losing 2-1 at Costa Rica on Tuesday night. The Mexicans advanced to the home-and-home series when the United States rallied with two late goals to win 3-2 at Panama. That kept Mexico in fourth place at the conclusion of the CONCACAF final qualifying round with only 11 points, three ahead of Panama, which would have advanced by holding off the AmericansThe U.S. trailed 2-1 when Graham Zusi scored on a header in stoppage time. That sapped the life out of Panama, and Aron Johannsson scored the American's winner a minute later with the last kick of the game.
"It shows you how brutal football can be. For one side that's almost there, and then the other side is back in,'' U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "Now obviously you feel for the people. You feel for an entire country.'' The U.S., which clinched a World Cup berth last month, didn't use most of its starters, and Gabriel Torres put Panama ahead in the 18th minute in a downpour at Panama City. Michael Orozco tied it the 64th minute, just as Costa Rica took a 2-1 lead at home against Mexico.
Luis Tejada scored in the 83rd, putting Panama within minutes of a fourth-place finish and a berth in next month's playoff against Oceania champion New Zealand. Mexico, which last missed the World Cup in 1990, would have been eliminated. But Zusi scored 1:24 into three minutes of stoppage time, and Johannsson added his first international goal at the 2:40 mark, giving the U.S. a record-tying 22 points in the hexagonal."This is just how football writes these crazy, emotional stories, and you're in the middle of it, because we all felt all of a sudden when Graham scored that header that it was all quiet, silence, and you feel for them,'' Klinsmann said. "Maybe it's a little bit in my culture, in the German culture you never stop before the referee blows the whistle, because I have won many, many games in the last minute. And hopefully, we keep on winning more. But it was a very sad moment for all here in Panama. We understand that.''
Edgar Castillo started the set up to the tying goal with a pass to Brad Davis, who sent the ball to Zusi. He climbed over Henriquez and his 8-yard header beat goalkeeper Jaime Pemedo. It was his third international goal, and second in five days. With Panama pressing to get the goal it needed to regain the lead, Terrence Boyd set up Johannsson for his first goal for the U.S. on a 20-yard shot.The finish also pushed Panama to fifth place in the hex, and allowed Mexico to finish fourth and qualify for the playoff with New Zealand -- barely. "We thought that we were out," Mexico striker Oribe Peralta said.Mexico could be hard-pressed to beat the Kiwis and get to Brazil, especially if it can't find some offense. In 10 games, the Mexicans scored seven goals.
"We've got to reflect, and we have to do whatever it takes to make it to the World Cup," Peralta added. "Things are not working as we wish."Shortly after the match, "Gracias USA" was trending on Twitter. US Soccer replied:
Tony Dungy believes that Jim Irsay's perceived criticism of Peyton Manning just days before the four-time MVP returns to Indianapolis to play the Colts was probably strategically motivated.But Dungy, who was hired by Irsay to coach Indianapolis and won a Super Bowl with Manning, struggles to reconcile why the Colts' owner would disparage Manning after touting the team's plan for a pregame tribute to the Denver Broncos quarterback."Jim is making this personal," Dungy said in a text message to ESPN. "I'm surprised."The Colts (4-2) will host the unbeaten Broncos (6-0) on Sunday night in Manning's heavily anticipated return to Lucas Oil Stadium.In a recent interview with USA Today Sports, Irsay said he was "frustrated" that the Colts won only one Super Bowl despite reaching the playoffs 11 times with Manning.
Irsay also explained the Colts' decision to release Manning and draft Andrew Luck prior to last season, telling USA Today, "We've changed our model a little bit, because we wanted more than one [Super Bowl ring]."Dungy thinks Irsay was deliberately trying to provoke the highly competitive Manning."I think that's what he's trying to do," Dungy told ESPN in a text message. "Have him make it such a big game he doesn't perform well. I can't figure any other reason to go this way."Manning's situation is similar to that of Brett Favre, who had experience winning a Super Bowl with one franchise before returning to play his former team in the stadium where he was worshipped most of his career.
After retiring and then attempting to force his return to the Green Bay Packers to win his release, Favre eventually returned to Lambeau Field with the Minnesota Vikings and can relate to the conflicting emotions Manning might be feeling."Not that he needs any advice," Favre told ESPN, "but for me, I had never been more nervous and anxious before a game as I was then. So being able to think clearly, as my emotions were running high, was a monumental feat. But he will do fine."In a far more hostile environment than Manning should expect for his homecoming, Favre delivered one of the greatest performances of his career in his return to Lambeau Field, throwing four touchdown passes without an interception in Minnesota's 38-26 victory Nov. 1, 2009.That followed Minnesota's win over Green Bay four weeks earlier at the Metrodome, when Favre threw for three touchdowns in a 30-23 triumph.
The 37-year-old Manning has flourished with Denver and is on a record-setting pace this season. He leads the NFL with 2,179 passing yards and 22 touchdowns -- a league record through six games.Broncos coach John Fox defended Manning in an interview Tuesday with SiriusXM NFL Radio, calling Irsay's comments "disappointing and inappropriate" and "a cheap shot."Colts coach Chuck Pagano said Wednesday that he didn't believe Irsay meant any disrespect to Manning."I don't think there's anybody that Mr. Irsay respects and cares for more than Peyton. What can't you say about Peyton, what he's done for the organization, what he's done for this city, or fans? What he's done for football? It's off the charts and it's certainly -- all I know is our owner has the utmost respect, love and passion for that guy and always will," Pagano said on a conference call with Denver-area media Wednesday morning. Irsay took to Twitter late Tuesday night to address his critics, claiming that they have "negative agendas" and that "the noise doesn't bother me." Irsay tweeted again Wednesday morning in an attempt to explain his comments about Manning
ESPN.COM
"It shows you how brutal football can be. For one side that's almost there, and then the other side is back in,'' U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "Now obviously you feel for the people. You feel for an entire country.'' The U.S., which clinched a World Cup berth last month, didn't use most of its starters, and Gabriel Torres put Panama ahead in the 18th minute in a downpour at Panama City. Michael Orozco tied it the 64th minute, just as Costa Rica took a 2-1 lead at home against Mexico.
Luis Tejada scored in the 83rd, putting Panama within minutes of a fourth-place finish and a berth in next month's playoff against Oceania champion New Zealand. Mexico, which last missed the World Cup in 1990, would have been eliminated. But Zusi scored 1:24 into three minutes of stoppage time, and Johannsson added his first international goal at the 2:40 mark, giving the U.S. a record-tying 22 points in the hexagonal."This is just how football writes these crazy, emotional stories, and you're in the middle of it, because we all felt all of a sudden when Graham scored that header that it was all quiet, silence, and you feel for them,'' Klinsmann said. "Maybe it's a little bit in my culture, in the German culture you never stop before the referee blows the whistle, because I have won many, many games in the last minute. And hopefully, we keep on winning more. But it was a very sad moment for all here in Panama. We understand that.''
Edgar Castillo started the set up to the tying goal with a pass to Brad Davis, who sent the ball to Zusi. He climbed over Henriquez and his 8-yard header beat goalkeeper Jaime Pemedo. It was his third international goal, and second in five days. With Panama pressing to get the goal it needed to regain the lead, Terrence Boyd set up Johannsson for his first goal for the U.S. on a 20-yard shot.The finish also pushed Panama to fifth place in the hex, and allowed Mexico to finish fourth and qualify for the playoff with New Zealand -- barely. "We thought that we were out," Mexico striker Oribe Peralta said.Mexico could be hard-pressed to beat the Kiwis and get to Brazil, especially if it can't find some offense. In 10 games, the Mexicans scored seven goals.
"We've got to reflect, and we have to do whatever it takes to make it to the World Cup," Peralta added. "Things are not working as we wish."Shortly after the match, "Gracias USA" was trending on Twitter. US Soccer replied:
Tony Dungy believes that Jim Irsay's perceived criticism of Peyton Manning just days before the four-time MVP returns to Indianapolis to play the Colts was probably strategically motivated.But Dungy, who was hired by Irsay to coach Indianapolis and won a Super Bowl with Manning, struggles to reconcile why the Colts' owner would disparage Manning after touting the team's plan for a pregame tribute to the Denver Broncos quarterback."Jim is making this personal," Dungy said in a text message to ESPN. "I'm surprised."The Colts (4-2) will host the unbeaten Broncos (6-0) on Sunday night in Manning's heavily anticipated return to Lucas Oil Stadium.In a recent interview with USA Today Sports, Irsay said he was "frustrated" that the Colts won only one Super Bowl despite reaching the playoffs 11 times with Manning.
Irsay also explained the Colts' decision to release Manning and draft Andrew Luck prior to last season, telling USA Today, "We've changed our model a little bit, because we wanted more than one [Super Bowl ring]."Dungy thinks Irsay was deliberately trying to provoke the highly competitive Manning."I think that's what he's trying to do," Dungy told ESPN in a text message. "Have him make it such a big game he doesn't perform well. I can't figure any other reason to go this way."Manning's situation is similar to that of Brett Favre, who had experience winning a Super Bowl with one franchise before returning to play his former team in the stadium where he was worshipped most of his career.
After retiring and then attempting to force his return to the Green Bay Packers to win his release, Favre eventually returned to Lambeau Field with the Minnesota Vikings and can relate to the conflicting emotions Manning might be feeling."Not that he needs any advice," Favre told ESPN, "but for me, I had never been more nervous and anxious before a game as I was then. So being able to think clearly, as my emotions were running high, was a monumental feat. But he will do fine."In a far more hostile environment than Manning should expect for his homecoming, Favre delivered one of the greatest performances of his career in his return to Lambeau Field, throwing four touchdown passes without an interception in Minnesota's 38-26 victory Nov. 1, 2009.That followed Minnesota's win over Green Bay four weeks earlier at the Metrodome, when Favre threw for three touchdowns in a 30-23 triumph.
The 37-year-old Manning has flourished with Denver and is on a record-setting pace this season. He leads the NFL with 2,179 passing yards and 22 touchdowns -- a league record through six games.Broncos coach John Fox defended Manning in an interview Tuesday with SiriusXM NFL Radio, calling Irsay's comments "disappointing and inappropriate" and "a cheap shot."Colts coach Chuck Pagano said Wednesday that he didn't believe Irsay meant any disrespect to Manning."I don't think there's anybody that Mr. Irsay respects and cares for more than Peyton. What can't you say about Peyton, what he's done for the organization, what he's done for this city, or fans? What he's done for football? It's off the charts and it's certainly -- all I know is our owner has the utmost respect, love and passion for that guy and always will," Pagano said on a conference call with Denver-area media Wednesday morning. Irsay took to Twitter late Tuesday night to address his critics, claiming that they have "negative agendas" and that "the noise doesn't bother me." Irsay tweeted again Wednesday morning in an attempt to explain his comments about Manning
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