Panama left the USA’s hopes of qualifying for the Copa America knockout rounds in jeopardy on Thursday after securing a surprise 2-1 victory over the host nation. The stormy Group C match in Atlanta saw both teams finish with 10 men as Panama mounted a comeback following their opening loss to Uruguay.
The game shifted dramatically in the 18th minute when US winger Timothy Weah was sent off for striking Panama defender Roderick Miller in the face during an off-the-ball incident, which was spotted by VAR.
Despite this setback, Folarin Balogun put the US ahead with a spectacular shot from the edge of the area in the 22nd minute. However, Panama quickly equalized with a goal from Cesar Blackman.
As the match progressed, Panama’s numerical advantage began to wear down the US team. The US had a chance to reclaim the lead in the 81st minute when Weston McKennie’s impressive run and cross found substitute Ricardo Pepi at the far post. Unfortunately for the US, Pepi’s weak header was easily saved by Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, keeping the score at 1-1.
That missed opportunity proved costly, as Panama’s Jose Fajardo scored with seven minutes remaining, finishing off Abdiel Ayarza’s low cross to make it 2-1. The closing moments of the game were tense, with Panama’s Adalberto Carrasquilla receiving a red card for a foul on US captain Christian Pulisic. Despite this, Panama held on for the win, leaving the US’s knockout round hopes uncertain.
“That’s soccer at the end of the day. We know what we signed up for and playing in a Copa America, we knew it was going to be a fight,” US midfielder Tyler Adams said afterwards.
“Credit to Panama, they did their job and they got the result. Obviously, I think moving forward, we need to control our emotions in certain situations.
“The team fought for everything after we got the red card. Definitely can’t fault the effort. But by winning the first game we’ve put ourselves still in a position that we have all to fight for in the next game.”
Adams said Weah had apologized for his rash dismissal following the game.
“You never mean to get a red card, under any circumstances,” Adams said of Weah. “He’s not that type of person.
“He apologized to the team. And you know, just respect to the rest of the team because they they fought for every single ball, every single duel, every single minute, and we still created chances even after going down to 10 men.”
The defeat means the USA may well need to beat South American heavyweights Uruguay in their final group game next Monday to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Uruguay play Bolivia in Thursday’s late game in Group C.
