It went to extra time, but the United States were able to one-up Panama and reach the semis of this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- It was a testy affair from Lincoln Financial Field, but in the end, after 120 minutes, the U.S. Men’s National Team was able to outlast Panama 2-1.The Central American team held their own and put up a strong fight against the favored U.S., even scoring the first goal, but weren’t able to hold off the Americans who put it away in extra time.The sides came out a bit flat in their quarter-final match-up, with the first few minutes providing nothing more than a few switches of possession. As you would expect however, the favored U.S. squad began to control the ball as the match started to push on.It was after eight minutes that things really got started as the U.S. won a free kick to the right of the area, one that Houston Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden lined up to take. Firing in an outswinger to a host of white-shirted attackers, Holden found his club teammate Brian Ching who rocketed the header off the crossbar.Seconds later, Holden sent another cross into the area, with Kansas City Wizards frontman Davy Arnaud the target this time around. He met the ball well with his head, but pushed it barely over the bar. Productive moves by the U.S.Following those two chances, Bob Bradley’s men took over the match and barely allowed Panama to escape their own half. Possession was strong and continued, with the ball movement nearly always productive.Panama’s first real attempt on net was barely that, as some nice passing by the Marea Roja saw Jorge Luis Garces streaking into the area on the right shoulder of U.S. captain Jimmy Conrad. The veteran defender was able to get an excellent sliding tackle in on Garces to knock the ball away. If he hadn’t have made the tackle, Garces was alone in on goal.The play between the two teams following Conrad’s impressive challenge was choppy at best. It wasn’t until near the stroke of halftime that things really got interesting. Panama won a corner and sent it in to the area. The ball bounced around a bit, and took a deflection off of Chad Marshall before Blas Perez was able to rifle the it into the net for a shocking 1-0 lead.The whistle blew seconds later and the sides went into the locker-rooms not how they may have expected.The late first half goal by Panama seemed to have lit a fire in the U.S. and they came out determined and ready in the second 45. A completely different side out of the gate, it took under five minutes for the score to be leveled.From a corner to the left of goal, the ball bounced its way around the box before rolling eloquently to the edge of the area where Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman met it with a controlled shot that powered its way to the top right corner of the net. Panama keeper Jaime Penedo had no chance at making the save.Scoring the goal didn’t settle the U.S. down any as moments later Stuart Holden almost gave his team the lead. Great exchange play with Davy Arnaud along the right edge of the box resulted in Holden getting a clear chance on net. He struck the ball low and hard with his right across the face of the net and it barely missed the far post.The play was dictated by the Americans from the goal onwards as they appeared much more determined to make the game theirs. Brian Ching had a strong chance in the 63rd minute when advantage was played after Holden was fouled. Despite being absolutely flattened, Holden was able to play the ball to Ching who had one man to beat. Cutting it inside of his marker, the Dynamo forward blasted a shot just over the bar.Kenny Cooper of FC Dallas was brought on with about 15 minutes remaining to add to the striking options and he almost became a super sub in the 80th minute. Cultured full-back Heath Pearce took the ball down the left and after some nifty ballwork smashed a cross in that deflected off a Panamanian defender and was met by Cooper’s wide open head. The former Manchester United man couldn’t do much with it though and was only able to nod it over the bar.He had another chance in the 86th minute from a Holden cross this time, that he directed on net, but right into the hands of Panama keeper Penedo. 90 minutes wasn’t enough to separate the two teams so the game went to extra time.The pace of the match slowed a bit in extra time as the sides appeared content on going to penalty kicks. The flow was relaxed and legitimate chances on goal were few and far between.Full-back Heath Pearce had the best chance of the first 15 minutes. Some quality passing resulted in Pearce taking the ball just at the edge of the area with time and space. Smashing it low and hard, Pearce looked destined to break the tie. Unfortunately for U.S. fans, Penedo was able to push the shot aside.The complexion of the match changed as the first period of extra time drew to a close. A ball was played into the Panama box, with Cooper set to make something of the possession. Out of nowhere, Panama defender Roman Torres flew into Cooper with an unwieldy high tackle with studs up. Referee Armando Archundia had no choice but to call the foul as it was as blatant as they come. After a quick recovery, Cooper stepped up to the spot and placed the ball off the right post for the goal.Cooper’s PK was the difference in the match and it effectively put the USMNT into the semi-final round, which will be played on Thursday in Chicago.