Copa América: Panama Earns One Of Their Greatest Victories Against The U.S

In the second matchday of Group C at the ongoing Copa América tournament, Panama recorded one of their greatest victories against the United States. In doing so, Panama defeated their CONCACAF rivals, the United States 2-1. This is one the country’s most noteworthy triumphs as they crushed the competition hosts.

After his team was reduced to 10-men, Florian Balogun scored his second goal of the tournament to give the United States a 1-0 lead.

After Los Canaleros scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute, Jose Fajardo secured Los Canaleros’ victory with a swift 26′ response.

Yoel Bárcenas attempted an overhead kick for Panama, which flew over Matt Turner’s net. However, Weston Mckennie for the United States would be the first to put the ball in the opposing team’s goal and appear to have scored in the 5′ minute.

Chris Richard’s header hit the Panamanian cross bar after Christian Pulisic’s excellent free kick, and Tim Ream passed the rebound to McKennie, who curled it into the upper corner. The U.S. secured another early goal, but Ream was ruled offside, and the match stayed 0-0.

Following a forward Timothy Weah’s sending off 14 minutes later, the United States were reduced to ten men. However, in the 22′, Florian Balogun netted his second Copa Amércia goal.

To give his nation the early lead, the Monaco player struck a screamer from the edge of the Panama box. Four minutes later, Cesar Blackman of Panama scored with a shot from the top of the box that deflected past Turner in the goal.

With Panama having one man advantage, the two teams created chances, with Panama controlling more of the ball.

Into the second half, the United States made three changes including in goal with Ethan Horvath coming in for Turner. When Jose Fajardo fell in the United States box in the 63rd minute, Panama thought they had won a penalty. However, after consulting VAR, referee Iván Barton determined that there was no contact and the game continued at 1-1. The match picked up even more intensity from there.

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Ricardo Pepi had the best chance for the United States in the second half in the 81′ when he received a cross from McKennie on a counterattack. However, the young striker was unable to convert the opportunity.

Fajardo scored Panama’s 83′ goal against their Concacaf rivals with a brilliant one-touch finish minutes later. Following Adalberto Carrasquilla’s red card in the 88′, a frantic finish ensued, with Panama also being reduced to 10-men. The Americans made a valiant effort to score an equalizer, but they were unable to do so, and Panama celebrated a remarkable victory over the tournament’s hosts.

The United States ends the Group Stage with a massive battle against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay on July 1 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri while Panama faces off against Bolivia the same day at Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.