The People merely wanted a win in opposition to a Panama group they’d overwhelmed simply prior to now – which is ranked 32 spots under them within the FIFA rankings – and they might advance to the knockouts.
What adopted was nothing wanting a nationwide embarrassment — and one that would result in a disaster of confidence in supervisor Gregg Berhalter.
The USMNT had their worst passing (116 passes accomplished, 60 % accuracy) and had been unable to take care of possession in a sport with the US group down to 10 gamers inside 20 minutes. It led to a 2-1 loss, which raises many questions on this group and its coach's capability to adapt to the sport in entrance of them.
Now the People are confronted with the fact of being eradicated from the Copa America altogether — they’ll probably want a win or draw in opposition to Uruguay to advance — in a sport the place they are going to be taking part in with no starter like Tim Weah.
They might even be compelled to play with out Matt Turner – their beginning goalkeeper, who suffered a leg harm throughout a tough problem early within the match.
Tim Weah was despatched off within the seventeenth minute, leading to a 2-1 loss within the Copa America.
After this defeat, questions will likely be raised on the adjustment capability of supervisor Gregg Berhalter
The People thought they’d a superb begin when Weston McKennie scored within the fifth minute. However after consulting VAR, referee Evan Barton dominated that middle again Tim Ream was offside when he fired a header over goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
The US group suffered a setback within the twelfth minute when Cesar Blackman reached out for the ball and collided with goalkeeper Matt Turner. Turner landed awkwardly and remained down for some time earlier than finally getting up and taking part in once more.
The nightmare begin continued within the seventeenth minute when beginning winger Timothy Weah fully mistimed his play and punched defender Roderick Miller within the head.
After initially giving a yellow card, Barton modified his thoughts and confirmed Weah a purple card and despatched him off for an early bathe.
Given Panama's lead, it was anticipated that Los Canaleros would take benefit first.
However Folarin Balogun scored the primary aim of the night time to present the USA a 1–0 lead.
It was a superb effort ensuing from some miscommunication with Gio Reyna. Reyna handed the ball to the aim scorer, who tried a one-two move that bounced off the midfielder's ankle. The ball reached Balogun, who struck it cleanly and headed it over the goalkeeper's left put up and throughout the aim line.
Matt Turner left the sector with a leg harm and performed for the remainder of the primary half
Issues acquired worse when Tim Weah (21) was despatched off after punching a participant within the head
Happily for USA, Folarin Balogun (20) scored his second aim of the event to present them a 1-0 lead
I want the American individuals may keep that lead.
It took simply 4 minutes for Panama to equalise. Cesar Blackman's first shot was blocked, however his second effort bounced off Chris Richards and previous the diving arms of Turner for the equaliser.
The primary half ended with a lot of the scrappy play that typifies CONCACAF soccer – however solely Antoine 'JD' Robinson was given a yellow card.
Supervisor Gregg Berhalter raised his arms in disbelief within the forty third minute when a ball excessive was dished out to Christian Pulisic that resulted in what he thought was a transparent penalty within the field. Edgardo Farina badly mistimed his aerial problem and fell on high of the U.S. captain, however Barton didn't present a card and didn't name a penalty as a result of Pulisic was offside.
It was clear at halftime that the USMNT had been fully dominated. They had been outplayed and solely accomplished 62 % of their passes. This included simply 26 passes within the remaining 23 minutes.
Berhalter knew adjustments wanted to be made, and shortly. Turner missed the primary half with a foot harm and backup keeper Ethan Horvath was introduced in. Moreover, Reyna and Tyler Adams had been taken out for Cameron Carter-Vickers and Johnny Cardoso.
The American lead lasted simply 4 minutes earlier than Cesar Blackman scored the equalizer for Panama.
However in addition they determined to sit down again for a lot of the match to soak up the strain very like the Brazilian sport. It's a questionable resolution, because the People ought to have been searching for a aim to interrupt the impasse.
After a ten-minute ordeal, the People got a breather once they had been awarded a penalty within the 62nd minute. At first look, it seemed like Carter-Vickers had tripped Jose Fajardo within the field. However VAR confirmed he hadn't touched the Panamanian attacker and the sport remained tied at 1-1.
Balogun had one other try on aim within the 71st minute which went over the crossbar and was changed by Ricardo Pepi, who had been unlucky within the match in opposition to Bolivia.
As the sport approached the eightieth minute, nothing appeared to be working for the US group. In any assault, Panama threw gamers in entrance of the ball, which resulted in no buildup.
Their greatest likelihood got here late within the sport, within the 82nd minute, when snakebite Pepi's header had no venom and the ball was simply picked out by Mosquera.
Panama's Jose Fajardo (17) celebrates scoring the game-winning aim in opposition to the USMNT
With this loss, the USA will want a outcome in opposition to their hardest group opponent – Uruguay
Then got here the again breaker. Fajardo acquired a cross within the field after an extended spell of possession within the US half. He pressed the ball along with his boot and the ball moved in the direction of Horvath. The goalkeeper gloved on the ball and it went by each of his fingers. 2-1 Panama.
CONCACAFiness started. Adalberto Carrasquilla got here in with a wild problem – attacking Christian Pulisic's legs and knocking him to the bottom. A right away purple card was drawn and each groups had been down to 10 gamers every.
Nonetheless, the People couldn't do something. Panama dribbled out the clock and the match led to a victory. Now the USA must pat itself on the again in a do-or-die match in opposition to its hardest group stage opponent.
