I apologize in advance for only watching one match and any errors in the article, my medicine has made me hilariously sleepy this week.

Though there were chances in the first half nothing really perked me up until Jimmy Conrad had a head-to-head collision with a Panamanian player who's name escapes me, Conrad came off by far the worst and was bleeding out of his mouth. He looked spaced out. After halftime it was announced that he'd been taken to the hospital with a concussion. Good luck to him.

Things got worse for the US after the Conrad incident, Panama went down to the other end and scored after a corner kick. Some shambolic defending by the Americans eventually let Blas Perez have an easy chance and he made it 1-0. Some fan ripped his shirt off in the celebrations, Max Bretos said he could've gotten booked for it (he was already on a yellow) but the referee gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Following halftime the Americans equalized with a long range effort from Kyle Beckerman who had a superb match. Beckerman has done a good job putting himself into the shop window during the Gold Cup, don't be shocked if Europe beckons soon.

Later on Stuart Holden came close to making it 2-1 but his effort brushed wide of the far post. Substitute Kenny Cooper also had chances but couldn't convert.

For long spells of the second half Panama couldn't get forward at all, Troy Perkins probably took a nap. They did threaten late but were unable to do anything.

The match went into extra time where the US again had the run of play and managed to score after Cooper was speared in the box which lead to a penalty, Cooper converted.

The second half of extra time saw more of the same, and the match stayed 2-1. Panama's keeper did the slowest walk up ever to attack a corner at the end, he didn't even get to the box. It was weird.

All in all a good win for the Americans, but alarm bells will be ringing since Conrad will likely miss the semifinal, and probably final. That doesn't leave the team with many centerbacks by trade though Goodson did well stepping in.

Who designed Lincoln Financial Field? Was it done with only a ruler? Seriously, that place has no curves at all. Yes, I like curvy stadiums and curvy girls. I totally didn't say that. Stadium comments aside, Philadelphia produced a good crowd, something around 31,500. If they can do that for Philadelphia Union that'll be excellent.

Anyway, the US will play Honduras in the semifinals. The other two participants will be determined tomorrow in Dallas.

"It's our pre-season" was the excuse uttered by Major League Soccer apologists to explain the league's ineptitude in the old CONCACAF Champions Cup that often ran between February and May. "It'd be a different story if it was in our mid-season" they said.

They were wrong.

Very wrong. MLS heaped shame upon American soccer on Tuesday by failing to beat teams from Panama and Trinidad & Tobago when Tauro eased by Chivas USA and Joe Public laid an impressive beating on the kings of choke, the New England Revolution. But what happened Tuesday night in Foxborough was not a choke-job, it was a full scale massacre. The Revs were humbled 4-0 by Joe Public, 6-1 on aggregate, Gregory Richardson hit a hat-trick for Mike McComie's charges.

Joe Public finished the 2007 TT Pro League season in third place, good enough to qualify for the CFU Club Championship, a regional competiton that determines the Caribbean's three representatives in the CONCACAF feature. This year hasn't gone quite as swimmingly for the Eastern Lions as the Macoya-based side currently find themselves sixth.

Many will point to New England's injuries and claim that as the reason for New England's loss, but what injuries can't account for is a lack of heart, a lack of desire from eleven men who are paid to play a game that billions of us play for free everyday. This type of flat, lifeless performance from professionals is simply inexcusable.

Chivas USA did manage to save a bit of face for the league, while they were beaten by Panama's Tauro, they did fight. Tauro do seem a respectable side, they finished second in Panama's ANAPROF to San Francisco who face an uphill battle to join them in the group stages as they currently trail Guatemala's Jalapa 1-0 on aggregate.

The happiest man in America tonight is United Soccer Leagues President Francisco Marcos. Marcos was sure to be watching as the USL's Montreal Impact managed a 0-0 draw away to Real Esteli in Nicaragua which after their 1-0 win at Stade Saputo assured the USL a presence in the group stage. 

Tomorrow should prove to be an interesting day at MLS HQ in New York City, and Thursday could prove even more interesting if the Puerto Rico Islanders can manage to get by Costa Rican giants Alajuelense tomorrow. But the big match will be at RFK Stadium in Washington as DC United face the Charleston Battery in the US Open Cup. DC are the darlings of MLS, and Charleston are one of the USL's most respected, and most senior clubs. Yes, tomorrow will be interesting.