The US enjoyed a thrilling 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup final win, edging Panama 1-0 thanks to a 69th minute goal from Brek Shea.
Shea scored his second and so far the most important international goal for his country, tapping in from close range just 42 seconds after being introduced as a substitute Sunday, reports Xinhua.
"It doesn't matter who scored today," said Shea. "We won."
The victory was also meaningful for team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, a legendary German striker who won the 1990 World Cup and 1996 European Championships as a player. This was his first international title as a coach.
"The team wanted to send out a signal that they are the best group in CONCACAF, and they are," said Klinsmann.
Landon Donovan didn't score in the final match, but the contribution of five goals and seven assists was good enough for the veteran to take home the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award of the tournament.
The US would meet the 2015 Gold Cup winners in the playoff for a berth in 2017 Confederations Cup. If they win Gold Cup again in 2015, the team would directly qualify for the Confederations Cup.
