The USA beat Panama, are playing like a real team rather than a sack of frustration

The United States beat Panama 2-0 in front of more than 40,000 loud and delightful fans in Seattle. They are now on top of the CONCACAF World Cup qualification table with a game in hand on Mexico. Just to be clear, they are not Spain and they have not cemented their World Cup qualification just yet. But after this latest performance, USA fans should feel something they're not used to feeling: Contentment with the state of the team.

Over the last two weeks, the United States has played four matches and the improvement from game to game has been consistent and as clear as a Jermaine Jones yellow card. First, they played a friendly against Belgium and were simply outplayed by a very talented team, losing 4-2. Four days later, they played a friendly against a second-choice Germany squad and got off to a great start before defensive errors forced the team to scramble to hold on for a 4-3 win.

Five days after that, the USA again got off to a very comfortable start in their World Cup qualifier at Jamaica. But a defensive gaffe result in a late goal for Jamaica, before defender Brad Evans scored a goal in the second minute of injury time to reclaim the lead. The United States won 2-1 for their first ever World Cup qualifier win in Jamaica.

And now four days after that, the team beat Panama with a clean sheet and a goal in each half to go on top of the table with 10 points from five matches. The subconscious comparison to Mexico's purgatory of scoreless draws (three in three home matches and four overall) makes the USA's position look even better. But there are no comparisons necessary to decide that the United States is taking steps toward being something other than infuriating.

The USA's passing was quick and accurate against Panama. They finished with clinical precision and th! eir defe nse showed far fewer lapses and mistakes.

Centerbacks Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler are developing better chemistry the more they play. Jozy Altidore has now scored in three straight games and is playing like the man who scored 31 goals for this season's Dutch Cup winner, rather than the guy who was subbed off at halftime against Belgium two weeks ago. And in the absence of midfielder Jermaine Jones, Geoff Cameron stepped in to allow Michael Bradley to push forward and add to the attack. In other words, they're showing some real team stuff.

Just look at these goals. First, Jozy Altidore's in the 36th minute:

And Eddie Johnson's in the 53rd minute:

See? I wasn't hallucinating. Again, they're not world beaters, and they're only halfway through this final round of qualification so perspective is required. The "We are going to Brazil!" chants were decidedly premature. But an evolution under manager Jurgen Klinsmann is starting to take shape. And this is all without Landon Donovan, who will be rejoining the squad later this summer.

Signs of progress are fun, even if they are contained entirely within two weeks.

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