Welcome to your live thread for the United States Women's National Team against Panama in Group A play in the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship (5 p.m., FS1 and UDN). The USWNT can take another step toward World Cup qualifying with a win, as Panama is currently second in the group after a 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday. Eight teams are chasing three direct berths into the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, with the winner tonight being in the driver’s seat to a spot in the knockout round. The U.S. has only played Panama once previously, beating the Central American nation, 9-0 back in 2002. Tiffeny Milbrett scored five goals for the USWNT in that match. This is only Panama’s third appearance in the Concacaf Women’s Championship and the visitors will be facing a USWNT side that is 33-1-1 all-time in the Concacaf Championship, 12-0-2 in 2018, and 19-0-3 since the 2017 Tournament of Nations. Panama has won twice in this event, with both wins coming against Trinidad & Tobago (2002, 2018). Argentine Víctor Suárez coaches Panama, which has won three of its last four matches overall. However, 17-year-old goalkeeper Yenith Bailey may find the likes of Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Tobin Heath harder to handle than T&T, against which she made seven saves on Thursday. Marta Cox, Kenia Rangel, and Erika Hernandez provided the goals for Panama against T&T three days ago but I don’t expect the Panamanians to be able to put up that kind of offense against the U.S. The United States should be able to dispatch Panama much like it did with Mexico on Thursday. The key will likely be the same as usual — withstand the early energy of the opponents and grind them down over the course of 90 minutes of relentless play. I’ll repeat what I said in the preview for the Mexico game: This is a game the United States should win handily, although it may take until the second half to wear down the visitors. Then again, you never know what might happen when the ball is kicked. Rosters USWNT (Caps/Goals) Goalkeepers (2): 18-Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 17/0), 1-Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 34/0). Defenders (7): 7-Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage; 24/0), 19-Crystal Dunn (North Carolina Courage; 70/23), 20-Hailie Mace (UCLA; 2/0), 5-Kelly O’Hara (Utah Royals FC; 109/2), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 144/0), 14-Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 25/0), 2-Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 22/0). Midfielders (5): 6-Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars; 79/6), 8-Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 67/17); 9-Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 57/6), 16-Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 14/3), 3-Samantha Mewis (North Carolina Courage; 38/7). Forwards (6): 17-Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns; 139/22), 10-Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 260/102), 13-Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 148/92), 12-Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 104/45), 11-Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 38/12), 15-Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC; 141/40). Panama Goalkeepers (2): 1-Yenith Bailey, 12-Farissa Córdoba. Defenders (8): 13-Onelys Alvarado, 16-Sheyla Díaz, 15-Rebeca Espinosa, 2-Hilary Jaen, 20-María Montenegro, 3-María Murillo, 14-Maryorie Pérez, 5-Yomira Pinzón. Midfielders (5): 8-Laurie Batista, 4-Katherine Castillo, 10-Marta Cox, 6-Aldrith Quintero, 7-Kenia Rangel. Forwards (5): 17-Anuvis Angulo, 19-Lineth Cedeño, 18-Erika Hernández, 11-Natalia Mills, 9-Karla Riley. Referees REF: Tatiana Guzman (Nicaragua). AR1: Princess Brown (Jamaica). AR2: Chantel Boudreau (Canada). 4th: Odette Hamilton (Jamaica). How to Watch Match Time: 5 p.m. (ET). Venue: WakeMed Soccer Park — Cary, NC. TV: FS1, UDN. Streaming: FOX Sports GO. Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow @StarsStripesFC, @ussoccer_wnt, and @TheManeLand. Match Thread Rules This is your live thread for posting comments on the match. So use our comments section below to talk about the game in real time with other supporters. If you’re new, welcome to our happy home! While you’re here, please observe a few basic rules: Absolutely no links to illegal streams. They can get us in trouble, and no one wants that. Try not to be the person who spews nothing but venom and hate for the team. It’s OK to be critical, and, let’s face it, sometimes even the best teams can be frustrating to watch, but being overly negative relentlessly can sap the enjoyment for others. Keep it somewhat clean and fair when criticizing players / officials. You never know who might be reading. Do unto others in the match thread, the way you would have others do unto you. We are a fun community and want to keep it this way. We have a moderator, but we’d rather let him enjoy the game instead of having to play babysitter. Enjoy the match! Go America!<doc-sep>The United States Women’s National Team took its second step toward World Cup qualifying with a lopsided win over Panama at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC. The U.S. got a first-half brace and an eventual hat trick from Carli Lloyd and cruised to an easy 5-0 win. The U.S. stands atop Group A at 2-0-0 with six points and a +11 goal differential and should Mexico draw Trinidad & Tobago in the late game, it would give the USWNT the group with one match still to play. If any other team in the group reaches six points, it would have to overcome a huge goal differential and that’s simply not happening. The U.S. is as good as through to the knockout round which will determine which three teams will head to the 2019 World Cup. Jill Ellis did a lot of rotating from the starting squad that took the pitch on Thursday against Mexico. Only Julie Ertz and Abby Dahlkemper returned to their starting roles from the Mexico match. Orlando Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris started in place of Alyssa Naeher, while Alex Morgan was replaced by Lloyd. The entire attacking line was switched out, with Lloyd flanked by Christen Press and Mallory Pugh. Sam Mewis and Morgan Brian replaced Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle, with Casey Short, Hailie Mace — in her first USWNT start — and Emily Sonnett stepping in on the back line for Crystal Dunn, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Kelley O’Hara, respectively. Eleven as one. We in this together. Lineup notes » https://t.co/OFUJTBmAgS pic.twitter.com/esnGizd98O — U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 7, 2018 The USWNT jumped on the front foot immediately and earned a free kick in the fourth minute when Marta Cox fouled Mewis from behind just above the penalty area. Mewis took the set piece, which deflected off the wall and was headed just under the bar but 17-year-old goalkeeper Yenith Bailey made the save, handing the U.S. a corner. The first goal came from that corner in the fifth minute. Press delivered the cross into the area, where Mewis nodded it just inside the far post to make it 1-0. Lloyd nodded a shot off the crossbar in the 11th minute but was ruled offside, but that was only a momentary setback for the offense. Three minutes later, Lloyd was all alone in front to take a cross but her header was right at Bailey and her rebound attempt was denied by a great reaction save by Bailey with an assist from the left post. Yenith Bailey, Panama's 17-year-old keeper, making saves. pic.twitter.com/BwJ2Ux5ZQ4 — Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) October 7, 2018 Mewis sent one off outside netting in the 22nd minute after a great through ball from Press. A minute later, the U.S. doubled its lead on another corner kick. Lloyd arrived for a free header at the back post and powered it through Bailey to make it 2-0. Despite the lopsided first half, the United States would have completely embarrassed Panama if not for Bailey, who made several huge stops to keep the score from getting even more out of hand. She robbed Pugh in the 24th minute after the Washington Spirit forward got in behind the defense. Mace sent one right at Bailey in the 28th minute off another corner kick. A minute later, Lloyd scored her second. She took a pass in the box, made a great fake to the outside, then cut inside past two defenders and blasted a shot into the upper 90 on the right side to make it 3-0 in the 29th minute. In the 31st minute, Lloyd nearly completed her hat trick when she was slipped in alone but Bailey scrambled off her line to take it off her foot. But the onslaught continued a minute later when Dahlkemper’s long ball unlocked the defense and sent Press in alone on goal. She rounded Bailey patiently and fired into the empty net to make it 4-0. Press nearly got her second in the 39th if not for a save by Bailey. Then Bailey denied Lloyd in front in the 41st and made a great save with her right foot in the 42nd on Brian. That was the final chance of the half as the U.S. completely dominated the game and only the heroics of Bailey kept the United States from potentially reaching double digit goals. Panama didn’t attempt a shot in the opening period. The United States continued to own the game, adding a fifth goal early in the second half. Lloyd completed her hat trick on a header off a set piece delivery from halftime sub Rose Lavelle, making it 5-0 in the 48th minute. A Hat Trick for Carli Lloyd! ⚽️⚽️⚽️ The goals keep on coming for the USWNT. pic.twitter.com/jjeYANIQmz — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 7, 2018 Pugh nearly scored in the 50th minute on a shot that was cleared off the line and then Bailey again robbed Press 1-v-1 in the 53rd minute. Press headed a ball into the net off a throw-in play in the 55th but the play was whistled offside. Mewis got her head on it first, but Lloyd came back from an offside position to nod it to Press. Lloyd then sent a screamer at the net in the 60th but it was blocked just in front of goal. Panama finally got a good look in the 61st minute when a ball out of the corner deflected into the area to Laurie Batista, but with a lot of time and space at her disposal, she completely missed the net, firing well over Harris’ goal. The relentless attack from the U.S. continued a minute later, with Lloyd chipping one off the crossbar in the 62nd and Pugh missing high on the follow-up. Panama finally got a shot on target in the 69th off a corner kick. The ball popped out to the top of the penalty area where Aldrith Quintero scorched a shot on goal but Harris punched it away with a solid save to preserve the shutout.<doc-sep>The U.S. women's national soccer team is set to play Panama in the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship today at 2 p.m. PST at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. See how to watch and follow live updates from the game below. The 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship serves as the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Sunday's game is the USA's second game of the tournament. The USA is in Group A alongside Mexico, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago. If the USA finishes first or second in its group, it will advance to the knockout stage of the tournament. The top three teams in the tournament will qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, while the fourth-place team will advance to a playoff. The USA is the favorite to win the tournament. Portland Thorns players Tobin Heath, Emily Sonnett and Lindsey Horan are all with the U.S. team and could feature in the game. If you are looking to watch the USA play Panama, here's what you need to know: What: The U.S. women's national soccer team will take on Panama in the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship. When: Sunday, October 7 at 2 p.m. PST. Where: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. TV Channel: Watch live on Fox Sports 1 (In Portland: Comcast 408/723); In Spanish on Univision Deportes (In Portland: Comcast 615/660). Online: Stream live on Fox Sports Go. Live updates: -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com 503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg<doc-sep>The United States women's national team has inched another step closer to punching a ticket to the 2018 FIFA Women's World Cup in France after securing a comfortable 5-0 win over Panama 5-0 on Sunday. he lopsided victory comes just days after Jill Ellis' team beat Mexico 6-0 in the first match of the group stage, putting the team firmly in first place in Group A of the CONCACAF Women's Championship. Carli Lloyd scored a hat trick in the match, and now the U.S. is nearly a lock for a spot in the knockout stage. A win over Trinidad and Tobago in the final game of the group stage on Wednesday would put the Americans in the final four of the tournament. The top three teams clinch a berth to France 2019. Lloyd's fine hat trick came in just 25 minutes, with the first goal coming from a corner 23 minutes in: Then just six minutes later, she got by three defenders for her second: And in the 48th minute, her hat trick arrived: A fine performance from the team and the star midfielder now has 105 goals with the national team. She's now just three goals away from passing Michelle Akers for fourth all-time in the national team's history. The USWNT is back in action on Wednesday against Trinidad and Tobago. You can stream all USWNT matches in the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship can be streamed on fuboTV (try for free). Relive USWNT vs. Panama If the live blog doesn't load, please click here.<doc-sep>
Starting XI: Christen Press, Carli Lloyd, Mallory Pugh, Samantha Mewis, Julie Ertz, Morgan Brian, Casey Short, Hailey Mace, Abby Dahlkemper, Emily Sonnett, Ashlyn Harris First, let’s just take a look at this graphic from FS1 displaying stats from the game to set up expectations. Okay. Just keep those numbers in mind. The United States women’s national team went into their second game of World Cup qualifying against Panama fresh off a confident, almost ebullient 6-0 win over Mexico. Jill Ellis rotated her roster heavily, bringing in nine new starters and only repeating Julie Ertz and Abby Dahlkemper from her previous starting XI. But for all the changes, the first half played out even more in the US’ favor than it did against Mexico. Ellis had Mace pushed up next to Carli Lloyd to start the game, leaving three in the back, and though the US looked a little disjointed as a result, they started the scoring early as Sam Mewis dinked in a nice header off a corner kick in the 5’ to make it 1-0. Mace returned to the back line after about the first 10 minutes, but the attack didn’t slow down. With so many changes and a mid-game formation switch, the team didn’t look all that crisp, and Carli Lloyd needed some time to jump to a higher gear. She had a bunch of efforts right in front of the goal in the 14’, but despite being completely alone in front of goal, her header was right at the goalkeeper, 17-year-old Yenith Bailey. Bailey had a great reaction save on Lloyd’s follow-up and was in fact the highlight of Panama’s game. Still, she couldn’t keep Lloyd out forever. Lloyd returned in the 23’ with yet another header, this time at the far post, and made it 2-0, and then she scored her second in the 29’ to make it 3-0 with a very rude stepover and turn and shoot. Not to be outdone, Christen Press came along four minutes later with this breakaway and body fake to make it 4-0. The half ended at 4-0, having gone pretty much the way you’d think it would go between the current World Cup champions/#1 team in the world and a team that until five weeks ago hadn’t played a game in four years. After securing the scoreline, the team noticeably relaxed, and throughout the half the passing was not super crisp, but that never bit the US with anything more than a couple of stifled attempts by Panama to break out of their own half. The game slowed down a lot in the second half. Ellis started things off with a sub, bringing on Rose Lavelle for Julie Ertz. Brian dropped a little and Lavelle went forward, looking to link up with Lloyd and Press. Her connection with Pugh was a little lacking, especially considering the two are club teammates ta the Washington Spirit, but Pugh was not sharp for a lot of the game. She lost a lot of one-v-ones and her timing on crosses and runs wasn’t clicking with teammates. Lavelle made an immediate impact though, dropping a free kick into the box for Lloyd to finish her hat trick and make it 5-0. But the team backed off once again after the goal, losing cohesion and not managing a lot of link-up play. Panama, perhaps sensing that they were being given an opening, cranked up the intensity. They worked their way through the midfield and into their attacking third and managed a look at goal in the 62’, then forced a save out of Ashlyn Harris in the 70’. The US woke up a little after Harris’ parry and tried to drag the game back into Panama’s territory. Lindsey Horan came on in the 77’ for Abby Dahlkemper, moving the team once again to three in the back, with Horan pushing higher with the forward line and acting as another target for distribution by Lavelle and Brian. Horan definitely kept Panama on their toes, dragging left and trying to put the ball in with Lloyd and sometimes Pugh or Press on the back post as her target. But despite the late pressure, there were no more goals to be had. There were some nice individual moves - Lavelle confidently carrying the ball out of the midfield, Lloyd unselfishly laying it off for Press to take a shot - but as a whole, the US was definitely looking like someone trying to wake up from a nap.