The USA faced a surprising 2-1 defeat against Panama in their second group game at the Copa America on Thursday. This game had everything: excitement, drama, and a red card. The side was down a man after Tim Weah was sent off in the eighteenth minute. Despite their efforts, the United States couldn’t manage to hold onto a draw. Here’s a breakdown of the players’ performance
The Defense of team USA
Matt Turner had a challenging game. He got injured after a flying challenge from a Panama player, which affected his performance. He could have done better on Cesar Blackman’s goal. Due to his injury, Turner was replaced by Ethan Horvath at halftime. Antonee Robinson was one of the standout performers. He set up opportunities and helped Folarin Balogun score. However, he was partly responsible for Panama’s go-ahead goal. If he had gone for a challenge, it might have resulted in a penalty.
Tim Ream’s game changed after the team was reduced to 10 players. His passing had to become more direct. He was decent in defense, but none of the defenders had a great game. Chris Richards nearly scored in the first five minutes and received a yellow card for defending Christian Pulisic. However, like the rest of the defense, Richards had a night to forget.
Joe Scally did what he could, but it wasn’t enough. He had some good moments, especially when the team switched to a back three, but it didn’t change the outcome. Tyler Adams was supposed to play for 60 minutes, but with the team down to 10 men, he had to be replaced by Johnny Cardoso at halftime. It was a tough match for Adams, made worse by the early goal.
Tim Ream was offside, and Weston McKennie’s score was disallowed. He was much more involved than in the previous match against Bolivia. In midfield, McKennie put in a lot of effort to stay up with Panama. Gio Reyna was substituted at halftime as the team needed to strengthen the defense. With only 12 touches in the first half, Reyna’s impact was minimal, affected by Weah’s red card.
The Attack of team USA
Tim Weah’s performance was a major disappointment. He was sent off in the 18th minute for shoving a Panama player, leaving his team in a difficult position. Weah will miss the important match against Uruguay and could face further suspension.
Folarin Balogun had his best game in a USMNT shirt. He scored an excellent goal and was very active defensively. Balogun worked hard for his team throughout the match. Christian Pulisic, the team captain, didn’t take a single shot during the match. His set play delivery was poor. Despite the high expectations, Pulisic couldn’t find the spark to push the USMNT’s attack.
Substitutes and Manager
Ethan Horvath replaced Matt Turner at halftime. While he got two hands to Jose Fajardo’s goal, he should have done better. After coming dangerously close to giving up a penalty, Cameron Carter-Vickers lost his man for Fajardo’s goal. He played poorly for the whole forty-five minutes he was on the field. At halftime, Tyler Adams was replaced by Johnny Cardoso, who had trouble having an effect on the match .Ricardo Pepi nearly scored again, but “almost” isn’t good enough. The football team needed goals when Pepi came on, but they didn’t come.
Josh Sargent came on late in the game, trying to push for a goal. He didn’t have much opportunity to influence the game. Manager Gregg Berhalter wasn’t to blame for Weah’s red card. However, his decision to switch to a back three midgame left players confused about their roles, causing more chaos. The combination of management issues and players not stepping up has left the USA facing one of their biggest group-stage challenges under Berhalter.
Considerations
The match against Panama was a tough one for the USA, with a red card and injuries complicating their efforts. Despite some individual performances, the team couldn’t secure a draw or victory. The upcoming games will be crucial for their chances in the Copa America.
