Panama has never won the Concacaf Gold Cup in its history, but will have its first opportunity since 2013 to do on Sunday in Las Vegas.
Thomas Christiansen’s squad outlasted the U.S. men’s national team 5-4 on penalties to clinch a third-ever Gold Cup Finals appearance. Ivan Anderson and Jesus Ferreira traded goals in extra time before Ferreira and Cristian Roldan both missed opportunities in the penalty shootout.
After defeating Canada in penalties on Sunday, the USMNT failed to reach the tournament final for the first time since 2015.
Cade Cowell struck the right post early in the opening minute after being left wide open inside of the Panama box. Ferreira was denied by Orlando Mosquera just a few minutes later as the Americans registered their second shot on goal in quick succession.
Jose Fajardo and Ismael Diaz missed chances for Panama before Thomas Christiansen’s squad thought they had taken the lead.
Edgar Barcenas slid a shot past Matt Turner in the 38th minute, but the in-form forward was whistled offsides after racing ahead of the USMNT backline.
Diaz’s header in the 53rd minute was pushed wide by Turner for a Panama corner as Panama continued its offensive pressure.
The USMNT started to create more chances in the final third with Ferreira missing the left post inside of the box before Brandon Vazquez skied his header attempt over the crossbar. However, Panama came closest to stealing a late victory with the USMNT getting let off the hook in stoppage time.
Diaz slotted home in the box in the 93rd minute after Adalberto Carrasquilla’s pass caught the USMNT backline sleeping. An offsides decision though waived off the go-ahead goal though and forced the teams to extra time.
Panama took advantage of some tired USMNT legs in the 99th minute to claim a 1-0 lead. DeAndre Yedlin and Miles Robinson both kept substitute Anderson onside before the 25-year-old tapped into an empty net after Turner left his line.
It was Anderson’s first-career goal for Panama.
The USMNT hit back though at the end of the first extra time period as Jesus Ferreira continued his impressive tournament. Jordan Morris won the first header off a free kick before Ferreira’s curling right-footed shot nestled into the right corner of Mosquera’s net for a 1-1 scoreline.
Ferreira opened the shootout with a miss in the first round before the next four players combined all successfully scored from the spot. Turner denied Cristian Martinez to give the USMNT a lifeline but Mosquera’s diving save on Roldan gave Panama a chance to seal victory with the final kick.
Carrasquilla’s powerful shot nestled into the left corner of Turner’s net, giving Panama its fourth win of the tournament through five matches.
The USMNT now enters a lengthy break before facing Uzbekistan and Oman in the September FIFA Window as Gregg Berhalter makes his return to the sidelines.
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