There is no interoceanic canal that can harbor enough of a current of happiness as that which Panama is feeling at this moment, after a job well done, even if it was little expected, in the greatest showcase that all of America can offer.
The canal squad moved history by beating 2-1 USA in the Copa America 2024 in an unforgettable duel for the last country in Central America, the one that marks the border with the south and, now, with illusions and dreams.
The Stars and Stripes team had too much punishment, not only because of the score, but also because of the number of minutes in which they played with one less. Although before, the Americans gave their rival a scare, when Weston McKennie scored a goal for the United States on a set piece after a rejection inside the area.
After a VAR review, Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton ruled out Tim Ream’s goal for offside, having assisted McKennie. The VAR was again the focus of attention in the 18th minute, when Barton sent off Tim Weah for an inexplicable assault on Roderick Miller. Weah punched Miller in the head when the ball was not in play.
THE UNITED STATES IS LEFT WITH ONE ONE LEFT AND IS GOING UP HILL AGAINST PANAMA
The United States reacted with anger to Weah’s expulsion, and in the 22nd minute Folarin Balogun put the host ahead with a shot that went in after hitting Orlando Mosquera’s far post. The second on his account so far in the tournament. It was a goal similar to that of Maximiliano Araújo, the first that Panama conceded in its debut against Uruguay.
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Adalberto earned a red card for a foul on Pulisic, which led to complaints between both teams and yellow cards.
Panama responded immediately. César Blackman, who took the place of the injured José ‘Puma’ Rodríguez, equalized with a tight shot to Matt Turner’s right post from outside the area.
Balogun’s goal had been a mirage. With 10, the American team became a leak both in defense and in the midfield, with many spaces for Adalberto Carrasquilla to do damage.
Until the break, the feeling was of constant danger in the area defended by Turner, but the Panamanians were unable to take advantage of their superiority. First time in which he went through everything.
Gregg Berhalter changed systems in the second half, from the initial 4-4-3 to 5-3-1 with the entry of defender Cameron Carter-Vickers with the aim of stopping the bleeding of the minutes before the break and perhaps already thinking about save the tie.
He also replaced Turner, who injured his knee in the first half after getting involved in a disputed ball with Blackman.
Panama was already dreaming of the second when the referee pointed out the penalty spot for a challenge inside the area by Carter-Vickers on José Fajardo, who had entered at half-time. But after consulting his initial decision again with the VAR screen, Barton reversed himself, considering that there had been no contact.
In the midst of Panama’s dominance, with no clear chances, Ricardo Pepi missed one of the few opportunities the United States had, heading the ball weakly into Mosquera’s hands. The end of the match was near when Panama’s reward came in the 83rd minute, in a play initiated by Carrasquilla in which Fajardo put it in the back of the net assisted by the recently substituted Abdiel Ayarza.
The Panamanian joy was cut short shortly after, when Carrasquilla was sent off with a straight red card for an ugly tackle from behind on Christian Pulisic. With 10 against 10, the five minutes of added time seemed eternal for Panama.
The defeat leaves the United States in a very complicated situation, since qualification for the playoffs will have to be played in the last game of the group stage, against the Uruguay team, while Panama will do so against Bolivia.
*With information from EFE.
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