USMNT Stunned by Panama in Concacaf Nations League
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) faced a shocking defeat at the hands of Panama, as Cecilio Waterman, a substitute for the Canalero, scored in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time. This goal secured a stunning 1-0 victory for Panama on Thursday at SoFi Stadium, ending the USMNT’s streak of three consecutive wins in the Concacaf Nations League.
This defeat marks the third consecutive tournament loss to Panama, following last summer’s 2-1 triumph in the Copa America and the 2023 Gold Cup semifinal win on penalties. It was also the first competitive loss for Mauricio Pochettino since he took 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.
Panama’s Tactical Brilliance
In many respects, Panama deserved their win. They were tactically smart, solid in defense, and opportunistic in attack. The U.S. team, on the other hand, delivered a lackluster performance, characterized by sterile passing and poor set-piece deliveries from Christian Pulisic. Despite having nine corners, the U.S. failed to capitalize on these opportunities.
The match highlighted a persistent issue for the USMNT: the creation of quality chances. This has been a long-standing problem, even with talents like Pulisic and other players at top clubs, and a renowned coach like Pochettino at the helm. Panama’s approach remains the blueprint for defeating the U.S.
Offensive Struggles
Just last November, the U.S. seemed to be making progress in their attack, as evidenced by their Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal triumph over Jamaica, where they secured a 5-2 aggregate win. However, against Panama, the U.S. reverted to their old form, struggling to break down a well-organized 5-4-1 formation.
- Josh Sargent’s close-range effort in the 19th minute, blocked by Panama defender Edgardo Fariña, was the closest the U.S. came to scoring in the first half.
- Despite Panama’s disciplined defense, the U.S. didn’t help themselves with lackluster touches and static movement.
Midfielder Tyler Adams, returning to the lineup for the first time since last summer’s Copa America, acknowledged the need for improvement. “Sharpness for sure can be better,” he said. “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.”
Missed Opportunities
Josh Sargent had a chance to showcase his prolific club form, with 12 goals and five assists in 24 games, but the performance didn’t materialize. Although he put the ball in the net in the 25th minute, Timothy Weah was correctly judged to have been offside in the buildup.
Sargent was substituted in the 68th minute for Patrick Agyemang, who nearly put the U.S. ahead in the 82nd minute, but Panama keeper Orlando Mosquera made a fabulous save.
The U.S. needed creativity from the bench, but Pochettino opted for Jack McGlynn instead of Gio Reyna or Diego Luna. This decision didn’t pay off, and Waterman’s late strike sealed the U.S. team’s fate.
Looking Ahead
Questions were raised about goalkeeper Matt Turner’s positioning on the winning goal. His lack of consistent playing time at Crystal Palace, with only four appearances in the 2024-25 season, may have contributed to his inability to meet the moment.
So, where does the U.S. go from here? Pochettino hinted at overconfidence, stating, “We are USA. You cannot win with your shirt, or you cannot win if you play here, there or I don’t know. 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 added that the passivity of the U.S. attack 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,” he said. “We need to make things happen and put games on our terms.”
The U.S. will face either Canada or Mexico in Sunday’s third-place game, and Pochettino will be searching for ways to revive a dismal attack.
Originally Written by: Jeff Carlisle
