USA vs. Panama: Americans Must Dominate Defensively in Friendly

The US Men's National soccer team only won six games in 2011 under new coach Jurgenn Klinsmann. The former German goal-scorer saw his American side net only 16 goals in 17 games during the year.

They yielded far too many.

They're off to a better start in 2012 after blanking the Venezuelans 1-0 in Phoenix last week, and they need to continue that trend down in Panama City tonight against the Panamanians.

Goal scoring is part of it, but the US needs to show they can stop opponents and keep the net clear if they're going to progress as an international force.

They can't seem to find any balance, and that is an issue.

When they push up offensively, they sacrifice on the back end; when they go conservative, they don't generate enough goal-scoring opportunities.

They can break through for a counterattack goal from time to time, which means they need to ensure their back line can stop opposing teams from scoring.

Panama actually beat the US in CONCACAF group play, the Americans' first-ever loss in group play of the tournament, before the US righted the ship in the semifinal with a 1-0 win.

Klinsmann's squad is without a number of its superstars tonight, as their duty is with their club teams abroad.

Without Tim Howard to rely on in net, it will be important for the US to focus its  efforts on the defensive end of the field and work forward on counterattacks when Panama is vulnerable.

The US isn't good enough go all-out offensively tonight with their current roster; they must dominate defensively instead.