Posted on 10/10/2021 7:49:48 PM PDT by elpadre
The United States crashed to their first ever World Cup qualifying defeat against Panama on Sunday as coach Gregg Berhalter's decision to ring the changes backfired.
Anibal Godoy's glancing header on 54 minutes secured all three points for Panama at Panama City's Rommel Fernandez Gutierrez Stadium to jolt the USA's bid to reach next year's finals in Qatar.
It was a deserved win for Panama, who created the better scoring chances against a disjointed USA line-up.
The US had moved to the top of the CONCACAF qualifying standings after a 4-1 win over Honduras last month was followed by a 2-0 win over Jamaica in Austin last Thursday.
But the momentum built up by those two wins evaporated after Berhalter named a new-look starting line-up for Sunday's clash against Panama, who qualified for the 2018 World Cup finals at the USA's expense.
Only four players who started Thursday's win over Jamaica were named in Sunday's starting line-up, with forwards Brenden Aaronson and goalscoring teenager Ricardo Pepi both left on the bench.
In their absence, the US struggled to offer any kind of attacking threat against a Panama team who could have taken the lead early on when Rolando Blackburn just failed to tap in a cross from Freddy Gondola.
Gondola then squandered a golden chance to open the scoring on 34 minutes, breaking clean through on goal from Alberto Quintero's pass only for US goalkeeper Matt Turner to produce a fine one-handed save.
Turner saved the US again on the stroke of half-time tipping over a fierce shot from Edgar Barcenas.
Berhalter made changes at half-time with Tyler Adams replacing Yunus Musah and Aaronson coming on for Paul Arriola.
(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...
Love to see upsets. Looks like the coach didn’t use his proven players and got caught. He probably thought this was a walk-over.
Those gringos make too much money and are too cocky.
Please refrain from abusing the news forum with sports articles.
Does the team hate the USA and Trump and have purple hair?
No.
Good.
No, this is not the purple hair idiots.
Coach played the third string. 🍋
Ping!
I travel the USA EXTENSIVELY in my work. I don’t know a single Patriot that gives a damn about soccer. Not a single one. But, I have met many hundreds of America Hating Leftists that are enthralled with this sport.
“Patriot that gives a damn about soccer...”
don’t doubt that at all. I thought it was interesting that a little 3rd world nation upset a high fluting team, and that a French newspaper made it a major story.
there was a panama/usa qualifier some years ago that panama was ahead 2-1 I think with a minute to go, and the US got 2 goals to go fwd in cup. folks were puzzled, but it seemed quite obvious what had happened to me. huge advertising money involved and these one-hex countries don’t bring in the numbers.
surprised panama decided to win this one.
I know many that give a damn and I am one.
“I know many that give a damn and I am one.” Oh, that’s right I forgot about you Log Cabin Republicans. My apologies.
When posted in news topic, this headline would be a spoiler for people avoiding the sports topic to watch the game another day.
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