Panama Triumphs Over United States in Historic CONMEBOL Copa América Victory

Panama Triumphs Over United States in Historic CONMEBOL Copa América Victory

Jose Fajardo (L) of Panama fights for the ball with Cameron Carter-Vickers (R) of United States during the CONMEBOL Copa America group C match between Panama and United States at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia(Image- Getty)

In a thrilling match on the second day of Group C play, Panama emerged victorious over their Concacaf rivals, the United States, with a 2-1 win. This historic triumph is considered one of Panama's greatest football achievements. Uruguay and Bolivia are set to conclude matchday two of Group C later tonight.

Key Moments:

- Florian Balogun netted his second goal of the tournament, giving the U.S. a 1-0 lead despite being a man down.

- Panama quickly equalized in the 26th minute.

- Jose Fajardo scored the decisive goal for Panama in the 83rd minute.

Match Overview:

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, was packed with fans on June 27 as the United States and Panama faced off in the second matchday of Group C.

Panama had the first significant opportunity when Yoel Bárcenas attempted an overhead kick that missed Matt Turner’s net. The United States' Weston McKennie appeared to score in the 5th minute after a free-kick from Christian Pulisic led to a header from Chris Richards that hit the crossbar, with McKennie curling the rebound into the upper corner. However, the goal was disallowed as Tim Ream was ruled offside, keeping the score 0-0.

In the 19th minute, the United States was reduced to 10 men after forward Tim Weah received a red card. Despite this disadvantage, Florian Balogun scored a stunning goal from the edge of the Panama box in the 22nd minute, marking his second goal of the tournament. Panama responded swiftly, with Cesar Blackman equalizing just four minutes later when his shot slipped past Turner.

The remainder of the first half saw both teams creating chances, with Panama having the upper hand in possession due to their numerical advantage.

The second half saw the U.S. making three substitutions, including bringing in Ethan Horvath for Turner in goal. In the 63rd minute, Panama believed they had won a penalty when Jose Fajardo went down in the box, but after a VAR review, referee Iván Barton ruled no contact, and the match continued at 1-1.

The U.S. had a golden opportunity in the 81st minute when Ricardo Pepi received a cross from McKennie on a counter-attack but failed to convert. Panama capitalized on their chance minutes later, with Jose Fajardo scoring the winning goal in the 83rd minute. The match concluded in a tense finish, with Panama also reduced to 10 men after Adalberto Carrasquilla received a red card in the 88th minute. Despite the U.S. pushing for an equalizer, Panama held on for a memorable victory.

Upcoming Matches:

The United States will face Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay on July 1 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. On the same day, Panama will play against Bolivia at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Lineups:

United States:

Turner; Robinson, Richards, Ream, Scally; Reyna, Adams, McKennie, Weah, Balogun, Pulisic

Substitutes Used:

Horvath, Carter-Vickers, Cardoso, Pepi, Sargent

Cards:

 Weah (Red), Robinson (Yellow), Richards (Yellow)

Coach:

 Gregg Berhalter

Panama:

 Mosquera; Murillo, Farina, Cordoba, Miller, Davis; Barcenas, Carrasquilla, Martinez, Blackman; Guerrero

Substitutes Used:

 Fajardo, Gondola, Ayarza

Cards:

Guerrero (Yellow), Carrasquilla (Red), Farina (Yellow), Gondola (Yellow)

Coach:

 Thomas Christiansen

Goals:

 22’ Florian Balogun (USA), 26’ Cesar Blackman (PAN), 83’ Jose Fajardo (PAN)

Man of the Match:

 Folarin Balogun (USA) 

Referee:

Iván Barton (El Salvador)

Venue:

 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia (USA)