America have been defeated 2-1 by Panama in an exciting Copa America encounter on Thursday.
A frantic opening paved the best way for an exhilarating, blood and thunder match wherein each groups had a participant despatched off.
The primary 26 minutes in Atlanta noticed the USA have a purpose disallowed, Timothy Weah despatched off and Folarin Balogun rating a stunner earlier than Cesar Blackman equalised.
With the match seemingly ebbing in the direction of a draw, Ricardo Pepi’s profligacy sparked a frenetic finale, with Jose Fajardo netting within the 83rd minute and Panama holding agency regardless of Adalberto Carrasquilla’s crimson card.
Victory takes Panama stage on three factors with the Copa America hosts, who’re in a precarious place forward of dealing with Uruguay of their last Group C match.
A rowdy crowd was nearly silenced inside the primary two minutes when Yoel Barcenas’ beautiful bicycle kick flashed over the crossbar, however the residence followers have been quickly celebrating when Weston McKennie slammed in, just for the purpose to be disallowed after a prolonged VAR evaluation for Tim Ream straying offside.
There was additional VAR frustration to return for the USA, as they have been lowered to 10 males when Weah noticed a yellow card upgraded to a straight crimson after he lashed out at Amir Murillo.
That frustration turned to elation within the twenty second minute as Balogun brilliantly fired in from the sting of the field, his left-footed strike cannoning in off the within of the right-hand upright.
It was a lead that lasted solely 4 minutes – Blackman drilling into the bottom-left nook from 20 yards out to revive parity.
VAR got here to the USA’s rescue simply after the hour when referee Ivan Barton overturned his choice to award Panama a penalty after Cameron Carter-Vickers lunged in on Fajardo.
Balogun went near a sensational second quickly after, however the perfect likelihood of the second half fell to his alternative Pepi, whose close-range header was saved out by Orlando Mosquera.
Pepi was instantly made to pay, with Fajardo making no mistake as he lashed residence from shut vary, and despite the fact that Carrasquilla noticed crimson, Panama sealed a memorable victory that throws Group C extensive open.
2 – The #USMNT has misplaced 4 group stage matches of main tournaments on American soil with two of these defeats coming in opposition to Panama (2011 Gold Cup Group Stage). Frustraters. pic.twitter.com/4sWlxOQUIB
— OptaJack (@OptaJack) June 27, 2024
Pepi pays the worth
Pepi has needed to accept a substitute position with Balogun the primary alternative, however that has not stopped him having possibilities. In actual fact, he has amassed extra anticipated targets (2.27) than another participant within the match to date.
But the teenager, who has performed simply 43 minutes, has did not convert any of his seven pictures, whereas the opposite 4 gamers within the prime 5 for xG at this version of the Copa have all scored a minimum of as soon as.
McKennie did brilliantly to tee Pepi up for the USA’s massive second within the second half, however PSV striker fluffed his strains.
In distinction, Balogun confirmed simply how good he may be – his purpose, his second of the match, got here from a shot with an xG worth of simply 0.04. The Stars and Stripes would possibly nicely want their first-choice ahead to ship that type of high quality once more if they’re to progress.
Panama worthy winners
Panama got here out on prime on penalties in opposition to the USA within the Gold Cup final yr, however Thomas Christiansen’s workforce have been nicely value their victory in regulation time on this event.
The USA did proceed their run of scoring a minimum of one purpose when dealing with Panama – they’ve now accomplished that in 19 of the final 20 conferences – however regardless of the hosts having the next xG (1.11 to 0.76), Panama had the innovative when it mattered.
They needed to play soiled at instances, committing 19 fouls to the USA’s 4, and Gregg Berhalter could nicely level to that, however mastering the darkish arts has given Panama, who face Bolivia subsequent, a terrific likelihood of getting out of the group.
