USA Stunned by Panama in Copa América Upset: Red Card Costs Hosts
Shorthanded USA Falls to Panama in Copa América Group Stage Upset
The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) suffered a surprising defeat against Panama on Thursday, June 27th, in their second group stage match of the 2024 Copa América. Playing with 10 men for most of the game after a red card to Timothy Weah in the 17th minute, the USA fell short despite taking an early lead.
A Red Card Throws a Wrench in the Plans
The match started brightly for the USA, with Weston McKennie putting the ball in the net after five minutes. However, a lengthy VAR check ruled out the goal for a handball by Timothy Ream in the build-up. Just moments later, disaster struck for the Americans. Weah received a straight red card for a reckless challenge, leaving his team a man down for the remaining 73 minutes.
A Spirited Fightback Falls Short
Despite the setback, the USA showed resilience. Folarin Balogun capitalized on a Panamanian mistake in the 22nd minute, giving the ten-man team a surprise lead. However, Panama grew in confidence as the half progressed. They equalized through Cesar Blackman in the 83rd minute and secured a dramatic victory with a goal from Jose Fajardo in the dying moments of the match.
A Missed Opportunity But Hope Remains
The defeat leaves the USA in a precarious position in Group C. While they are still technically in contention for the knockout stages, they will need to win their final group game and hope for other results to go their way.
Key Takeaways:
- A red card to Timothy Weah in the 17th minute proved to be a turning point in the match.
- Despite being down a man, the USA took the lead through Folarin Balogun.
- Panama fought back with goals from Cesar Blackman and Jose Fajardo to claim a historic victory.
Looking Ahead
The USA will need to regroup and learn from their mistakes before their final group stage match against [Opponent's Name] on July 1st. Their qualification for the knockout stages now hinges on not only their performance but also the results of other matches in Group C. Coach Gregg Berhalter will have his work cut out for him in getting his team back on track and rekindling their Copa América dreams.
