March 21 – With a goal in the fourth minute of added time Panama derailed the USA’s expectations of a ‘fourpeat’ Nations league win with a goal by supersub Cecilio Waterman in the fourth minute of added time.
With the clock running down Weston McKennie had his shot from the edge of the Panama box gathered by Mosquera who immediately sent his team on the counter attack. Adelberto Carasquilla, the puppeteer in Panama’s midfield, picked up the ball on the edge of the US box and threaded it to Waterman on his right who rocketed it past US keeper Matt Turner.
It was a stunning turn of events in a game where the USA had dominated possession but ultimately lacked the intensity or killer instinct to finish off a defensively obdurate opponent
It was the worst possible start for the USA’s run in to their home-hosted World Cup in 2026.
The honeymoon period is well and truly over for manager Mauricio Pochettino who had lost just once in nine friendlies before losing tonight on his first start in an international competition.
For Panama it was vindication for Thomas Christiansen’s tactics and attention to detail. If he had lost he would have been pilloried for his lack of adventure. Instead he will be feted as a tactical genius who has made the most of an aging team and the resources available to him, none of whom play their club football in Panama.
The result left a stunned SoFi stadium somewhat speechless. This result was not in the Hollywood Park script. But like all good dramas the twist is so often at the end. And this drama really did need a twist to save it.
Where does the US go from here? Certainly there is a now a psychological mountain for Pochettino and this team to climb, and the wider ambition of surfing a tsumani of growing support throughout the country into the 2026 World Cup has foundered on the first rocks encountered.
It could so easily have been a different result and much of the match was spent waiting for the US to convert their 67% of possession into a goal.
The US controlled the ball from start with Panama happy to sit in with a back five protected by a bank of four watching the US pass the ball comfortably in front of them but with no real end product.
It wasn’t until 8’ before Panama had a real incursion in the US half real. Christian Martinez muscled Yunus Musah off the ball in the final third to win a corner. The corner was cleared only for a free kick to Panama outside the US box that was cleared comfortably. It was Panama’s only significant contribution to an attacking game in the half.
The first real chance of the game fell to the USA on 19’. Weston McKennie on the right was in space to slide the ball across to Christian Pulisic who hit the post. USA’s pressure was threatening to open gaps in Panama’s defence.
On 24’ the US had the ball in the back of the net. Weah received a cross ball on the left in acres of space. He returned the ball to Norwich City’s Josh Sargent, 6m out in front of goal who hammered the ball through Orlando Mosquera, only for Weah to be rule offside, by about an acre.
Normal cat and mouse service resumed with Panama very much the mouse and the US the cat that was waiting for its moment to pounce but seemed in no particular hurry to do so. That lack of persistent urgency was ultimately their undoing as the half close out 0-0.
Tim Weah opened the second half the brightest for the US, finding space on the left early and having a stong call for a free kick outside the box turned down. Minutes later he fired a shot from distance into Mosquera’s arms. The US had upped their intensity and were committing more men to the Panama box.
Perhaps sensing that it was time for something to happen, Pochettino was at last showing an interest in his technical area. But for all their build-up play and possession the US could not find the killer final ball.
On 67’ minutes Pochettino made changes. On came Patrick Agyemang for Sargent while late addition to the squad Jack McGlynn replaced Tanner Tessmann.
Panama brought on old war horse Cecilio Waterman – already a national hero – for not so old war horse Fajardo.
Still the US could not take more of their 65% possession, a stat that flattered Panama.
Mark McKenzie replace an injured Chris Richards in the US defense. Panama replaced Cesar Blackman with Ivan Anderson.
With time running down and the game seemingly slowing rather than increasing in intensity, Agyemang found an angle in as he muscled down the left hand side only for his shot across Mosquera to be pushed away.
On 87’ Pulisic attacked in the right and crossed low but under the feet of an incoming Agyemang. It was the US’s best chance of the half but once again the final ball let them down.
Deep into added time and with extra time looking inevitable, Weston McKennie had his shot from the edge of the box gathered by Mosquera who immediately sent Panama on the counter attack.
Carasquilla picked up the ball on the edge if the US and threaded it to Waterman on his right who rocketed it past Turner.
1-0 to Panama and the joy of Pochettino is suddenly wearing thin.
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