Panama stuns USMNT on penalties, ending dream of Gold Cup repeat

There will be no repeat for the USMNT, which could not win a second straight penalty shootout

]The U.S. men’s national team is out of the Gold Cup.

Just as it did in the quarterfinal against Canada, the USMNT fell behind in the semifinal against Panama in extra time, only to grab a dramatic equalizer and send the game into penalties. Unlike against Canada, however, the U.S. would fall to defeat in the ensuing shootout.

The result sees the U.S. miss out on the Gold Cup final for the first time since 2015, ending a three-tournament streak that included titles in 2017 and 2021.

The USMNT was often second best in the game’s first 90 minutes, which ended scoreless. An extra-time goal from Iván Anderson gave Panama a 1-0 lead, but Jesús Ferreira would reply just minutes later with a stunning equalizer on the volley — his seventh goal of the tournament.

But the USMNT would not have the same shootout fortune that it did in the quarterfinal, as Panama advanced to Sunday’s final after defeating the U.S. 5-4 on spot kicks at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

The defeat ends B.J. Callaghan’s tenure as interim head coach and ushers in the second Gregg Berhalter era, which will begin in earnest with a pair of September friendlies. After Callaghan guided the USMNT to victory in the Nations League last month, a squad made up of fringe national team players was unable to make it a perfect summer for the USA.

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Cade Cowell hit post just 20 seconds into the game after a Panama giveaway, but that was as good as it got for the USMNT in the first half.

Panama began to assert itself as the half wore on, keeping the lion’s share of possession while continuing to trouble the U.S. back line with long diagonal balls over the top.

The U.S., perhaps fatigued after going 120 minutes three days earlier, increasingly looked to be on the ropes and was undoubtedly relieved to simply get to halftime with the game scoreless.

The USMNT came out improved in the second half, and both Brandon Vazquez and Ferreira had golden opportunities to give their team the lead that were ultimately spurned.

Just before the end of regulation, the USMNT dodged a major bullet when Panama appeared to have scored through Ismael Díaz, who was ruled offside after a video review. There was also a possible handball on Djordje Mihailovic prior to Díaz’s goal that was not given for a penalty.

The U.S. would not be so lucky just eight minutes into extra time.

Another ball over the top caught the USMNT’s high line out, and Anderson, who only came on as a substitute at the end of regulation, got a vital touch that beat an onrushing Matt Turner before calmly finishing into an empty net.

Incredibly, just as they did on Sunday, the U.S. found an equalizer after going behind in extra time.

Jordan Morris won a long ball and guided his header straight to Ferreira, who did the rest with an outstanding volley.

The game would finish 1-1 and go on to penalties, where Ferreira saw his opening spot kick saved by Orlando Mosquera. Turner would then save from Cristian Martínez to level the shootout, which would ultimately go to a sixth round.

Cristian Roldan saw his penalty saved and Adalberto Carrasquilla made no mistake with his chance to win the match, giving the Central American side the upset and a place in the Gold Cup final for the first time since 2013.

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