Cecelio Waterman scored in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time and Panama advanced to the final of the CONCACAF Nations League with a stunning 1-0 semifinal win over the U.S. men’s national team on Thursday in Inglewood, Calif.
Waterman, who entered in the 70th minute, scored on Panama’s lone shot on goal off a counter by shooting from the right side of the box and beating goalie Matt Turner to the far post.
Panama will play either Canada or Mexico in the final on Sunday in Inglewood. The U.S. had won the previous three editions of the Nations League.
The Thursday game had a tentative start with the only action around either goal a missed header by Tanner Tessmann of the U.S. in the fourth minute.
The USMNT finally gained some traction 15 minutes later off a corner kick. A shot by Josh Sargent was blocked, but the ball was worked to Weston McKennie for a header from the middle of the box that was saved by Orlando Mosquera.
That would be the lone shot on target for the half. The U.S. led in attempts (3-1) and had 60 percent of possession while corner kicks were 2-2.
The U.S. kept pressing for answers, particularly Tim Weah on the left wing, but there were no dangerous chances through the hour mark.
Yet, with so much a stake there seemed to be little urgency until U.S. sub Patrick Agyemang, in his third national-team match, got behind the defense off a through ball by McKennie forced a diving stop by Mosquera in the 82nd minute. Five minutes later, Agyemang received a pass from Christian Pulisic in the 6-yard box but sent his shot over the crossbar.
While the U.S. leads the all-time series with Panama 18-4-7, since the 2015 Gold Cup, the USMNT has a 3-3-5 mark in competitive matches vs. Los Canaleros, including a 2-1 loss in the group stage of the 2024 Copa America that eventually led to coach Gregg Berhalter getting fired. Berhalter’s replacement, Mauricio Pochettino, won his USMNT debut 2-0 in a friendly against Panama on Oct. 12.
The Nations League and this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup were the U.S.’s last chances for a trophy before the 2026 World Cup in North America.
–Field Level Media
