Gold Cup: USA Gets the Goals They Need to Win Group B

Coach Bruce Arena took a chance resting regulars, but his subs came through.

As a result, the USA Men's National Team will go through -- as in Gold Cup bracket play -- as the top seed in Group B.

Record-wise and goal-wise, they tied at the top with Panama in the tourney's weakest division but advanced on more goals scored, 7-6.

You had to be a hardcore fan or purchaser of a program to know the heros, but that's the essence of team-building.

The Americans knew Panama had drubbed Martinique, 3-0. They had to match that result to secure the advantage of finising first on tiebreakers.

The situation got dodgy for a while -- two missed penalties -- but ultimately, home fans in Cleveland went home happy:

Matt Miazga in the 88th minute. Dude finally got something to do in this match -- American center backs were rarely tested -- and he was right on time when fate called his number.

The score didn't look like it, but this wasn't a precision performance for the USA. Given Arena's choice to rest regulars, it wasn't expected to be, but the squad got the job done.

Granted, it was a low bar ...

But someone had to do it.

Now, instead of what could've been a testy pairing with Costa Rica, the Yanks get El Salvador to start bracket play.

Big difference.