USMNT Stunned by Panama in Concacaf Nations League
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — It seems that Panama has become a thorn in the side of the U.S. men’s national team. In a dramatic turn of events, Panama’s substitute Cecilio Waterman scored in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, securing a stunning 1-0 victory over the USMNT at SoFi Stadium on Thursday. This defeat ended the USMNT’s streak of three consecutive wins in the Concacaf Nations League.
For those keeping track, this marks the third consecutive tournament victory for Panama over the U.S. Following last summer’s 2-1 triumph in the Copa America, Panama also defeated the U.S. in the 2023 Gold Cup semifinal on penalties and again in the 2024 Copa America group stage. This match also marked Mauricio Pochettino’s first competitive defeat since taking over as coach on September 10.
After the match, Pochettino expressed his frustration with the U.S. team’s performance, particularly in the first half, where he felt the team didn’t take enough risks. “I’m disappointed because I think it’s not the way that we want to build this journey together and moving forward with the objective to play in the World Cup, with the objective to be competitive,” he said.
In many respects, Panama deserved their win. They were tactically astute, solid in defense, and opportunistic in attack. It was not only the most unimaginative performance of Pochettino’s early tenure but also the worst, characterized by sterile passing throughout. Christian Pulisic‘s deliveries from set pieces were poor, despite the U.S. having nine corners.
The match highlighted a persistent issue for the USMNT: the creation of quality chances. This has been a long-standing problem, even with a generational talent like Pulisic, other players at top clubs, and a top coach like Pochettino. Panama’s approach remains the blueprint for defeating the U.S.
Just last November, the U.S. seemed to be making strides in their attack. The Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal triumph over Jamaica suggested that the Pochettino era had officially taken off, with the U.S. looking dynamic and taking their chances well in a 5-2 aggregate win over two legs.
However, against Panama, the U.S. reverted to form, at least offensively. The U.S. launched wave after wave of attacks against Panama’s defense, but most were thwarted by a well-organized 5-4-1 formation. Only Josh Sargent‘s close-range effort in the 19th minute, blocked by Panama defender Edgardo Fariña, came close in the first half.
- Panama’s tactical discipline was evident throughout the match.
- The U.S. struggled with creativity and sharpness in attack.
- Key players like Pulisic and Sargent couldn’t find their rhythm.
Despite Panama’s well-drilled defense, the U.S. didn’t help themselves. Lackluster touches turned promising attacks into ones that Panama easily defused. At times, the U.S. team’s movement was too static.
“Sharpness for sure can be better,” said midfielder Tyler Adams, who returned to the U.S. lineup for the first time since last summer’s Copa America. “I’m not sitting here to make excuses about anything. We’re not jet-lagged. We’re not anything: guys play three-game weeks all the time in tough environments in the Premier League, whatever leagues they’re playing in respectively and it’s tough.”
Adams continued, “So yeah, I think we have new ideas in our head, and you can tell we’re trying to work through them for sure. But yeah, it needs to be better.”
All of this turned Sargent into a spectator for much of the match. The game was a significant opportunity for the Norwich City striker to showcase his prolific club form — 12 goals and five assists in 24 games — at the international level and convince Pochettino that he should be in the starting lineup when the likes of Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi return from injury.
Unfortunately for Sargent, that kind of performance didn’t materialize, though the service was lacking. He did put the ball in the net in the 25th minute, but Timothy Weah was judged (correctly) to have been offside in the buildup.
Sargent was finally substituted in the 68th minute for Patrick Agyemang, and the Charlotte FC striker nearly put the U.S. ahead in the 82nd minute when a through ball from Weston McKennie put him in the clear, but Panama keeper Orlando Mosquera produced a fabulous save low to his left.
The U.S. needed an infusion of creativity from Pochettino’s bench; both Gio Reyna and Diego Luna were left sitting as the former Tottenham, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain coach opted for Jack McGlynn instead. It ultimately didn’t work, and the U.S. was made to pay thanks to Waterman’s late strike.
Pochettino said he was waiting for extra time to possibly introduce either player. That moment never came, but he hinted both Reyna and Luna might get an opportunity Sunday.
Questions can be asked too of goalkeeper Matt Turner‘s positioning on the winning goal, being too close to the near post and seemingly unable to spring across and meet the pace on Waterman’s low effort. His status seems certain in this time, but a lack of consistent playing time — Turner has made only four appearances for Crystal Palace in 2024-25, totaling 360 minutes across the FA Cup and Carabao Cup — contributes to not being able to meet the moment.
So where does the U.S. go from here? Pochettino hinted at overconfidence.
“We are USA. You cannot win with your shirt, or you cannot win if you play here, there or I don’t know,” he said, referring to players’ clubs. “You need to show, and you need to come here and be better, and suffer, and win the duels and work hard. If not, it’s not going to be enough.”
Adams, meanwhile, added that the passivity of the U.S. attack on this night needed to be addressed.
“I don’t know what we’ve lacked exactly, whether it was that competitive nature, that mentality, but we need to look in the mirror before anything and just realize that when we have these types of games, we can’t wait for something to happen,” Adams said. “We need to make things happen and put games on our terms.”
The U.S. will need to quickly find players with the necessary awareness of the challenges ahead. Up next, it will face either Canada or Mexico — its fellow World Cup co-hosts — in Sunday’s third-place game, and Pochettino will again be searching for ways to revive a dismal attack.
Originally Written by: Jeff Carlisle
