Ten-Man USA Falls to Panama in Copa América Thriller
The fate of the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) at the 2024 Copa América hangs in the balance after a gutsy Panama side secured a dramatic 2-1 victory in Atlanta on Thursday night. Playing with a numerical disadvantage for most of the match, the U.S. displayed resilience but ultimately succumbed to goals from Cesar Blackman and José Fajardo.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium buzzed with anticipation as the home crowd willed the USMNT on. However, the tide turned in the 18th minute when Timothy Weah received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Adalberto Carrasquilla. Despite the setback, the U.S. refused to crumble. Folarin Balogun, enjoying a breakout tournament,capitalized on a defensive lapse in the 22nd minute, unleashing a powerful left-footed strike past Luis Mejia to take the lead.
The goal ignited the home fans, but their joy was short-lived. Four minutes later, Cesar Blackman pounced on a loose ball in the box following a scramble, restoring parity for Panama. The first half continued with a frenetic pace, both teams trading blows. Weston McKennie nearly put the U.S. back in front, but his header rattled the crossbar. At the other end,Gabriel Torres forced a sprawling save from Matt Turner, keeping the scores level at halftime.
The second half became a tactical chess match. Gregg Berhalter, the USMNT coach, deployed a compact defensive strategy, aiming to frustrate the Panamanians and snatch a winner on the counter. Panama, content with a draw, sat deeper,absorbing pressure and looking to exploit any defensive errors. The tension remained palpable throughout, with tackles flying and yellow cards being brandished.
With seven minutes remaining, the game took another dramatic turn. Carrasquilla, who had earlier been on the receiving end of Weah’s red card, was shown a second yellow for a cynical foul, leaving both teams with ten men. This breathed new life into the U.S. attack. Christian Pulisic, largely anonymous until then, started to influence the game with his dribbling wizardry. However, Panama held firm, defending resolutely.
Then, in the 83rd minute, disaster struck for the U.S. A miscommunication in the backline allowed José Fajardo to steal the ball and slot it past Turner for the lead. The goal sent the Panamanian bench into a frenzy, while the American supporters fell silent. The U.S. poured forward in the remaining minutes, but Panama held on for a historic victory.
The defeat leaves the USMNT in a precarious position in Group C. They must now win their final group game against Bolivia and hope for favorable results elsewhere to secure a place in the knockout stages. Coach Berhalter will need to pick his players up and address the defensive frailties that were exposed against Panama.
For Panama, this victory is a giant leap forward. It’s their first win over the U.S. in a major tournament and serves as a reminder of their growing footballing prowess. They now sit atop Group C, needing just a point against Paraguay to guarantee their passage to the next round.
The 2024 Copa América continues to throw up surprises. The Panama-USA clash served as a microcosm of the tournament so far – full of passion, drama, and unexpected twists. Both teams will undoubtedly learn valuable lessons from this encounter, and their journeys in the tournament are far from over.
