In a major Copa America surprise, Panama stuns USA: With a shocking 2-1 victory over the host country on Thursday, Panama eliminated the USA’s chances of making it to the Copa America knockout stages.
After losing to Uruguay in their initial match, Panama rallied for a victory that rekindled their Copa campaign in a wild Group C match that saw both teams end with ten men.
When US winger Timothy Weah was sent off in the eighteenth minute for hitting Panamanian defender Roderick Miller in the face during an off-the-ball incident that VAR saw, the game took a crazy turn.
After just 22 minutes, Folarin Balogun gave the United States the lead with a screamer from the area’s edge, but minutes later, Cesar Blackman’s goal brought Panama back on equal terms.
But as the match went on, Panama’s one-man advantage started to wear thin on the exhausted US team.
In the 81st minute, Weston McKennie’s excellent run and cross to replacement Ricardo Pepi at the far post may have given the US the lead. But Pepi’s meek header ended up in the arms of Orlando Mosquera, the Panamanian custodian, making it 1-1.
That error proved costly, as with seven minutes left, Jose Fajardo put Panama ahead 2-1 with a powerful strike off a low cross from Abdiel Ayarza.
Adalberto Carrasquilla was sent off in the tense last minutes of play for a vicious hack on US captain Christian Pulisic, but Panama managed to hold on for the victory.
“At the end of the day, that is football. US midfielder Tyler Adams remarked after the game, “We know what we signed up for and playing in a Copa America, we knew it was going to be a fight.”
“Panama deserves praise for doing its job and seeing results. Going forward, I believe it will be necessary for us to regulate our emotions in specific circumstances.
“After we were given the red card, the team battled for everything. You can’t criticise the effort, for sure. However, by winning the first game, we’ve maintained our place and will all have to battle for it in the next one.”
After the game, Adams reported Weah had expressed regret for his hasty removal.
Adams remarked of Weah, “You never mean to get a red card, under any circumstances.” “That’s not the kind of guy he is.
“He expressed regret to the team. And you know, just show the remaining players some respect because they gave their everything for every ball, every duel, and every minute, and even with just ten men, we were still able to create opportunities.”
Due to the loss, the USA might need to upset Uruguay, a formidable South American team, in their last group match on Monday in order to advance to the quarterfinals.
Group C’s late game on Thursday features Uruguay taking on Bolivia.
