Christiansen’s Panama causes trouble in the United States

The choice of Panama lost this Thursday USA 2-1 in America Cup, a golden victory for their possible passage to the playoffs in a match where they had to overcome the initial goal of the tournament host. The first half started with a spectacular overhead kick from Édgar Yoel Bárcenas that went wide of the post. Notice from Panama, need to score points to stay alive.

But after that warning, what Panama got was a good scare: Weston McKennie scored a goal for the United States on a set piece after being denied inside the area. After the game was reviewed by VAR, Salvadoran referee Iván Barton disallowed the goal for offside by Tim Ream, who assisted McKennie.

VAR again played a key role in the 18th minute, when Barton sent off Tim Weah for an inexplicable tackle on Roderick Miller. Weah punched Miller in the head without playing the ball.

The United States reacted furiously to Weah’s dismissal, and in the 22nd minute Folarin Balogun put the hosts 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 Maximiliano Araújo’s, Panama’s first conceded on its debut against Uruguay.

Panama immediately responded. César Blackman, who came on for the injured José ‘Puma’ Rodríguez, equalized with Matt Turner’s hard shot at the right post from outside the area. Balogun’s goal is a mirage. At 10, the American team became a leak in defense and in midfield, with plenty of room for Adalberto Carrasquilla to do damage.

Until the break, the feeling was always in danger in the area that Turner defended, but the Panamanians were unable to take advantage of their superiority. First time where everything happened.

Berharter switched from a 4-3-3 to a 5-3-1

Gregg Berhalter changed systems in the second half, from the initial 4-4-3 to 5-3-1 with the introduction of defender Cameron Carter-Vickers with a view to stopping the bleeding minutes before the break and perhaps was thinking about saving the tie. He also replaced Turner, who injured his knee in the first half after being involved in a contested ball with Blackman.

Panama were already dreaming of a second when the referee pointed to the penalty spot for Carter-Vickers’ challenge inside the area on José Fajardo, who came on at half-time. But after re-consulting his initial decision on the VAR screen, Barton backed off, ruling there was no contact.

Amidst Panama’s dominance without any clear-cut chances, Ricardo Pepi parried one of the few the United States had, finishing weakly with a header into the hands of Mosquera. The end of the game was near when in the 83rd minute came the reward for Panama, it was on a play started by Carrasquilla where Fajardo put it in the back of the net assisted by the newly introduced Abdiel Ayarza.

Panama’s joy was cut short, when Carrasquilla was sent off with a straight red card for a nasty tackle from behind on Christian Pulisic. At 10 against 10, five minutes of extra time seemed like an eternity for Panama.

The defeat leaves the United States in a very complicated situation, as the qualification for the playoffs will have to be played in the last game of the group stage, against the Uruguayan team, while Panama will do so against Bolivia.

DATA SHEET

2 – Panama: Orlando Mosquera Eric Davis, Edgardo Fariña, José Córdoba, Roderick Miller, César Blackman (Freddy Gondola, m.60); Édgar Yoel Bárcenas, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Cristian Martínez (Abdiel Ayarza, d.76), Michael Murillo; and Eduardo Guerrero (José Fajardo, d.46)
1 – United States: Matt Turner (Ethan Horvath, m.46); Joe Scally, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna (Cameron Carter-Vickers, m.46), Tyler Adams (Johnny Cardoso, m.46); Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun (Ricardo Pepi, m.72) and Tim Weah
The objectives: 0-1, Folarin Balogun (m-22); 1-1, Cesar Blackman (d. 26); 2-1, José Fajardo (m. 83)
Referee: Ivan Barton (El Salvador). He advised the Panamanians Eduardo Guerrero (m.45), Edgardo Fariña (m.92) and Freddy Gondola (m.93) and the Americans Antonee Robinson (m.33) and Chris Richards (m.89). . He expelled Tim Weah (m.18), from the United States, and Alberto Carrasquilla (m.88), from Panama.
Incidents: The match on the second day of Group C of the Copa América was played at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta (Georgia) in front of more than 59,000 spectators.