The United States advanced to the final round of 2006 World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region with a 6-0 victory over Panama on Wednesday evening at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Landon Donovan scored the first two goals, the but the highlight of the game was hat trick by 20-year-old Ed Johnson in an 18-minute span of the second half. The final goal was an own goal
The U.S. clinched first place in Group A with 11 points thanks to the win and the 0-0 tie between Jamaica and El Salvador in Kingston. The last group game is Nov. 17 against the Reggae Boyz in Columbus, Ohio. The Reggae Boyz, World Cup finalists in 1998, need to gain at least a point — and perhaps a victory — to clinch second place and advance to next year's final round of qualifying in the CONCACAF region.
Guatemala (Group B) and Mexico (Group C) also clinched spots in the Hexagonal.
For Donovan, the goals were the 18th and 19th of his international career, moving him into fifth place all-time on the U.S. goal-scoring list, two ahead of Earnie Stewart.
Johnson now has four goals in 44 minutes of action in two appearances off the bench. He also scored Saturday in the 2-0 victory over El Salvador.
Johnson is just the third player in U.S. history with as many as four goals in his first two games, behind Buff Donelli's five in 1930 and even with Bert PatenaudeÆs four in 1928.
GAME REPORT
Oct. 13 in Washington, D.C.
USA 6 Panama 0. Goals: Donovan 21, 57, Johnson 70, 84, 87, own goal 90.
USA — Keller, Hejduk, Pope (Onyewu, 86), Berhalter, Bocanegra, Zavagnin (Mastroeni, 73), Beasley, Donovan, Lewis, McBride, Wolff (Johnson, 65).
Panama — Gonzalez, Moreno (Zapata, 61), J.A. Torres, Rivera, Henriquez (Miranda, 39), Blanco, M.Torres (Mitre, 74), Medina, Phillips, Brown, Julio Dely Valdes.
Yellow cards: USA — Beasley 12; Panama — Medina 69, Zapata 83, Miranda 89.
Referee: Ramesh Ramdhan (Trin. & Tobago).
Att.: 19,793.
STATS
Shots: USA 12, Panama 6.
Saves: USA 3, Panama 2.
Corner Kicks: USA 1, Panama 5.
Fouls: USA 18, Panama 23.
Offside: USA 3, Panama 3.