First Mexico against Venezuela 1-0 now USA both favorites to win the competition fall short against Panama 2-1, yesterday in a contentious contest full of incidents played before a crowd of 59,145 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium turned when U.S. winger Tim Weah was sent off in the 18th minute. The undeterred USMNT took the lead through striker Folarin Balogun just four minutes later, but then follwed by goals from Panama’s César Blackman and José Fajardo—the latter with just seven minutes remaining in the second half—resulted in defeat.
Competing with only 10 players for more than 70 minutes after an early red card, the U.S. Men’s National Team took the lead but ultimately fell 2-1 to Panama in its second group stage match at the 2024 Copa América. Now sitting on three points with a 1-1-0 record, the USA will continue its quest for a quarterfinal berth in the Group C finale against Uruguay on July 1
“ Tough game to take for us. But we are not done just yet, Ready to give everything on Monday” mentioned Captain Christian Pulisic
Hoping to maintain the USA’s momentum as Group C play continued, head coach Gregg Berhalter started the same lineup that engineered Saturday’s 2-0 win over Bolivia. It marked the first time he used identical lineups in back-to-back matches since the 2021 Gold Cup, but that XI would spend less than 20 minutes together on Thursday as Weah’s expulsion ended things in a rough, tense and busy first half.
The first plot twist came in just the fifth minute, when U.S. celebrations were cut short by a VAR review that nullified a goal by midfielder Weston McKennie. In the 12th, U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner was hurt in a violent collision with Panama’s César Blackman. Turner rose high and landed hard after being charged by Blackman, but after several minutes of on-field treatment on his left leg, he elected to continue.
Minutes later, Weah was issued a yellow card for an off-the-ball incident that was changed to red upon VAR review. His foul on Panamanian defender Roderick Miller reduced the USA to 10 players and forced Berhalter to pull captain Christian Pulisic back into left midfield, creating a 4-4-1 topped by Balogun.
Before both teams had time to fully adjust to the new circumstances, it was 1-1. The hosts struck first on a play that began when left back Antonee Robinson took advantage of a poor Panamanian clearance to race toward the penalty area and combine deftly with Balogun. The defense was frozen by the quick exchange of passes and Balogun had just enough time to lash a brilliant, first-time strike off the inside of the right post. It was the AS Monaco man’s fifth U.S. goal (in 14 appearances) and second of this Copa América.
Panama drew level four minutes later, however, as Blackman held off Robinson and guided a low shot that deflected off Weston McKennie and between U.S. center backs Tim Ream and Chris Richards just inside the left post.
José Fajardo (Abdiel Ayarza), 83rd minute: A period of Panamanian possession and a flurry of balls played into the penalty area paid off when Ayarza hit a low, hard cross from the right. Fajardo got position on U.S. center back Cameron Carter-Vickers and hammered a shot over U.S. goalkeeper Ethan Horvath from close range. USA 1, PAN 2 FINAL
It marked just the third time Panama has beaten the USA, which still holds a 17-3-7 advantage in the all-time series. Los Canaleros have improved under Danish coach Thomas Christiansen, rising from 81st in the FIFA World Ranking to 43rd since he took over in summer 2020. The two teams split their World Cup qualifying series in 2021-22 and Panama won last year’s Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinal on penalty kicks. Panama, now trailing the USA in Group C on goal difference, wore the U.S. down on Thursday with physicality and persistence.
The USMNT’s Copa América fate now will be determined on July 1 as Group C concludes. The U.S. (1-1-0) will entertain 15-time champion Uruguay in Kansas City, Mo., while Panama and Bolivia meet simultaneously in Orlando, Fla. The USA has advanced beyond the group stage in two of its previous four Copa América appearances. It exited early in 1993 and 2007 and went on to reach the semis in 1995 and 2016.
Attendance: 59,145
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 0 1
PAN 1 1 2
USA – Folarin Balogun (Antonee Robinson) 22nd minute
PAN - César Blackman 26
PAN - José Fajardo (Abdiel Ayarza) 83
Stats Summary: USA / PAN
Shots: 6 / 13
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 0 / 3
Fouls: 4 / 19
Offside: 2 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Tim Weah (Sent Off) 18th minute
USA – Antonee Robinson (Caution) 33
PAN – Eduardo Guerrero (Caution) 45
PAN - Adalberto Carrasquilla (Ejection) 88
USA – Chris Richards (Caution) 89
PAN - Edgardo Fariña (Caution) 92
PAN - Freddy Góndola (Caution) 93
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