Cecilio Waterman scored a stoppage-time winner as Panama surprised defending champions the USA 1-0 to e book their place within the CONCACAF Nations League ultimate on Thursday.
In a shock outcome that got here in Mauricio Pochettino’s first aggressive match in control of the USA, Waterman slammed dwelling a low angled end within the fourth minute of stoppage time to ship the holders crashing out at a half-empty SoFi Stadium.
The outcome sends Panama into Sunday’s ultimate, the place they’ll face both Mexico or Canada, who play in Thursday’s different semi-final.
However the defeat sends US coach Pochettino again to the drafting board after a efficiency the Argentine described afterwards as “actually painful.”
“I’m very, very disenchanted,” Pochettino stated. “I may see that the best way we approached the sport and begin wasn’t in the fitting means.
“We did not present aggression with the ball, we did not present aggression in a defensive means…the primary half was actually painful,” the previous Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea coach added.
Regardless of dominating possession, the US struggled to interrupt down a resilient Panama aspect for lengthy durations.
Norwich striker Josh Sargent got here closest to breaking the impasse early on, his Nineteenth-minute shot being deflected in direction of purpose by Panama central defender Edgardo Farina.
The US did not profit from one other opening two minutes later, Tim Weah choosing out Weston McKennie with a curling cross to the again submit just for the Juventus midfielder’s header to be well-saved by Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
– ‘Fought like loopy’ –
The US thought the early spell of stress had earned them a purpose within the twenty fifth minute when Sargent swept a low shot emphatically into the underside nook, but it surely was flagged for offside.
Pochettino introduced on striker Patrick Agyemang for Sargent and midfielder Jack McGlynn on for Tanner Tessman within the 67th minute, and the modifications appeared to have given the US extra thrust.
Agyemang got here agonizingly near opening the scoring within the 82nd minute after latching on to McKennie’s by means of ball, however his low shot was palmed away by Mosquera.
Agyemang additionally went shut two minutes from time, however miscued his shot from Christian Pulisic’s low cross, scooping it over the bar.
Then with extra-time looming, catastrophe struck for the hosts. After the US gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, Panama midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla discovered an unmarked Waterman on the sting of the realm.
The veteran striker took a contact and rifled dwelling into the underside nook earlier than leaping into the stands and embracing former France star Thierry Henry, working as a pitchside commentator for the sport.
“I’m very glad for the gamers — all of them fought like loopy,” Panama’s Danish coach Thomas Christiansen stated afterwards.
The US have now did not beat Panama of their final three aggressive conferences following an embarrassing 2-1 loss eventually 12 months’s Copa America and a 1-1 draw on the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2023.
“The final thrice that we confronted Panama in an official competitors we weren’t able to beating them. Why?” Pochettino stated. “I believe that may be a query mark — but it surely’s a query mark that we have to discover the answer to collectively.”
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