José Fajardo beat backup goalkeeper Ethan Horvath within the 83rd minute to offer Panama a 2-1 victory over the US on the Copa América on Thursday evening, placing the Individuals in peril of elimination in the event that they don’t beat Uruguay of their group-stage finale.
In a chaotic sport that noticed the 2 sides mix for 22 fouls, the US performed for a lot of the match a person down. Timothy Weah was proven a crimson card within the 18th minute after he struck Panama defender Roderick Miller away from the ball.
“You by no means imply to get a crimson card,” Tyler Adams mentioned after the sport. “[Weah] isn’t that sort of particular person. He apologized to the staff, and respect to the remainder of the staff as a result of they fought for each single ball, each single duel … and we nonetheless created probabilities after happening to 10 males, so it reveals our high quality. Once more, all to play for within the final sport [of the group].
Weah issued a public apology on social media.
“I let my staff and my nation down,” he wrote on Instagram. “A second of frustration let to an irreversible consequence, and for that I’m deeply sorry to my teammates, coaches, household and our followers.”
Folarin Balogun put the shorthanded US forward within the twenty second minute with a thundering strike, however César Blackman tied issues within the twenty sixth minute.
Horvath, who changed the injured Matt Turner at half-time, couldn’t forestall Fajardo’s close-range shot from going by his arms, and Panama beat the US for simply the third time in 27 conferences.
Weston McKennie appeared to place the US forward within the fifth minute however the aim was disallowed after a VAR evaluation for offside.
The match completed 10 v 10 after Panama have been additionally proven a crimson card within the 88th minute. Adalberto Carrasquilla was given a straight crimson after chopping down Christian Pulisic from behind. The US threw everybody ahead in a determined try and tie the sport, together with Horvath, however Panama held on for the win.
Weah was despatched off by Salvadoran referee Iván Barton after putting Miller behind the top. A professional-American crowd of 59,145 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was irate, particularly after two different calls went in opposition to the host nation.
Chris Richards’ header from Pulisic’s nook was deflected off the crossbar by goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, and a video evaluation decided Tim Ream was offside when he poked the ball to McKennie, who put the ball in from close to the penalty spot.
Blackman didn’t obtain a card when he collided within the twelfth minute with a leaping Turner, who landed awkwardly on his arm and was down for a number of minutes whereas being tended to by medical personnel.
Balogun scored after a sloppy clearance. Antonee Robinson dribbled into the penalty space and handed to the striker. Balogun exchanged faucets with Robinson and curled a shot from the sting of the world off the within of the far publish and in for his fifth aim in 14 appearances.
Blackman tied the rating within the twenty sixth when he took a go from Adalberto Carrasquilla on the arc, dribbled round Robinson and shot by the legs of Richards and simply previous Turner’s outstretched arm.
Berhalter made three substitutions to begin the second-half however the strikes backfired. Berhalter switched a 5-4-1 formation, seeking to stifle Panama’s assault. As a substitute, Panama bossed the possession and carved open the US backline.
The Individuals benefited from a video evaluation within the 63rd minute after Cameron Carter-Vickers, one other substitution, was whistled for taking down Fajardo within the space. The decision was reversed when a video evaluation, which confirmed Fajardo already had crossed the ball when Carter-Vickers made contact.
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Their finest alternative within the second half got here within the 81st minute when a header by Ricardo Pepi was saved by Orlando Mosquera.
The US, who opened with a win in opposition to Bolivia, will most likely must beat 15-time champions Uruguay on Monday in Kansas Metropolis to be able to earn a quarter-final berth.
Panama misplaced to Uruguay 3-1 and can shut in opposition to Bolivia, a staff with 13 straight Copa América losses going into Thursday evening’s sport in opposition to the Uruguayans.
Failure to advance from the most important check for the Individuals earlier than the 2026 World Cup will increase questions on whether or not coach Gregg Berhalter ought to stay in cost.
