On the morning of June 28th, the second round of Group C matches for the 2024 Copa America took place, with Panama facing off against the United States. Panama had unfortunately lost their opening match 1-3 to Uruguay, while the US had defeated Bolivia 2-0, riding high on confidence.
The match ignited with fireworks right from the start. In the 5th minute, the US found the back of the net through a set-piece opportunity, with Weston McKennie scoring. However, after a VAR review, the goal was ruled offside.
In the 16th minute, the game took a sudden turn. During a tussle with Roderick Miller, Timothy Weah was shown a yellow card for striking his opponent in the head from behind. But after intervention by VAR, the referee upgraded the punishment to a direct red card, leaving the US to face an uphill battle with ten men.
Despite this setback, the US didn’t back down and continued to press forward. In the 22nd minute, a clever assist from Anthony Robinson allowed Folarin Balogun to unleash a left-footed shot that hit the post before finding its way into the net, putting the US ahead 1-0.
However, in the 26th minute, Panama leveled the score through a powerful left-footed strike from César Blackman just outside the penalty area, bringing the two teams back to a level playing field. The pivotal moment came in the 83rd minute when Panama launched a cross from the right flank, allowing Jose Fajardo to volley the ball into the net, putting them ahead 2-1.
In the closing minutes, Adalberto Carrasquilla earned a red card for a foul on Christian Pulisic, restoring equal numbers on both sides. Nevertheless, the score remained at 2-1, with Panama achieving a stunning comeback victory.
After eliminating the US in a penalty shootout during the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Panama once again played the role of the US team’s nemesis. This victory not only marked the first time in history that Panama had overcome a deficit to defeat the US, but also earned them their highest single-match ranking points (24.41 points) since FIFA adopted the coefficient points system.
This win has significantly boosted Panama’s chances of qualifying from the group, while pushing the US to the brink. They now must defeat the formidable Uruguay team in the final round to secure their advancement. This clash not only showcased the tenacity and progress of Panamanian football but also added an unpredictable twist to the Copa America.
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