USA Edges Panama

USA 1, PANAMA 0------------------

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Freddy Adu scored in the 42nd minute as the United States held on for a 1-0 victory over Panama on Thursday in a CONCACAF Olympic qualifying match at Raymond James Stadium.

The goal was Adu's second in this Group A round-robin event, with his first coming in the 14th minute in a 1-1 tie against Cuba on Tuesday. Just minutes before the end of the first half, Adu blasted a penalty kick past goalkeeper Jose Calderon into the upper right side of the net. No red cards were issued, but Marvell Wynne was handed the lone yellow card for the Americans in the 18th minute. Panama's Manuel Bonilla and Alberto Quintero received yellow cards in the 19th and 59th minute, respectively.

In the first game of the Group A doubleheader, Honduras defeated Cuba, 2-0, behind goals from Marvin Sanchez and Hendry Thomas. Honduras leads the group with six points, followed by the United States with four. The teams return to action on Saturday when the Americans (1-0-1) face Honduras (2-0-0), while Panama (0-2-0) squares off with Cuba (0-1-1).

In Group B action in Carson, California, Canada (0-0-1), will meet Haiti (0-1-0) on Friday while Guatemala (1-0-0) meets Mexico (0-0-1) as well. The top two teams from Group A and B will move on to the semifinals in Nashville, Tennessee, where the winners will earn berths to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.