USMNT’s Surprising Defeat to Panama in Concacaf Nations League Semifinals
Coach’s Frustration After Unanticipated Loss
In a surprising turn of events, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) faced a 1-0 defeat against Panama in the semifinals of the Concacaf Nations League. Following the match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s overall performance. He emphasized that merely donning the national team jersey does not guarantee victory.
“We are USA. You cannot win with your shirt, or you cannot win if you play here, there or I don’t know,” said Pochettino. “You need to show, and you need to come here and be better and suffer and win the duels and work hard. If not, it’s not going to be enough.”
Match Overview
Despite holding possession for 66% of the match, the U.S. failed to translate that dominance into scoring opportunities, managing an expected goals (xG) tally of just 0.68. On the other hand, Panama produced an even lower xG of 0.10 but capitalized on their limited chances. The deciding goal came from substitute Cecilio Waterman, who scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the second half.
This defeat marked the third consecutive official competition loss for the U.S. against Panama, including a previous loss in the 2024 Copa America, which led to the dismissal of former coach Gregg Berhalter.
Pochettino’s Insights on the Game
The U.S. struggled to start the match effectively, exhibiting a lack of urgency and sharpness in their gameplay. Pochettino was particularly critical of the team’s slow approach in the first half.
“The way that we approach the game and start the game wasn’t in the right way,” he remarked. “In the first half, we played too slow, so comfortable on the pitch. We didn’t show aggression with the ball.”
Second Half Improvements
After halftime adjustments, the U.S. displayed more energy, with Timothy Weah making crucial runs down the left wing. A notable opportunity arose in the 82nd minute when substitute Patrick Agyemang was denied by an impressive save from Panama’s goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
Looking Ahead
When asked about including more creative players, such as Giovanni Reyna and Diego Luna, Pochettino mentioned that he was reserving them for the possible extra time.
“We were thinking to give the option to play Gio and Diego, but for sure they’re going to have the opportunity [next match],” he added.
Final Thoughts
The U.S. will now prepare to face Canada, who lost to Mexico in the other semifinal match, in the third-place consolation game scheduled for Sunday. Pochettino reiterated the need for a more aggressive and creative approach in upcoming matches.
“If you don’t have aggression, it’s impossible because the opponent knows that we are going to play into the feet. You need to take risks, you need to go forward, you need to win duels,” he concluded.