28 June 2024, 09:20 AM IST
U.S. defender Antonee Robinson (5) gets fouled by Panama defender Edgardo Fariña (24) during a Copa América 2024 Group C soccer match on Thursday in Atlanta | Photo: AP
Atlanta: In a dramatic turn of events, Timothy Weah’s red card left the USA’s Copa America hopes hanging by a thread as hosts suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat to Panama on Thursday.
Weah, the Juventus winger, was dismissed in the 18th minute after an off-the-ball altercation with Panama’s Roderick Miller in a heated Group C clash at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Despite Folarin Balogun quickly giving the US the lead following Weah’s exit, Panama’s numerical advantage eventually paid off. Goals from Cesar Blackman and Jose Fajardo secured a comeback victory for the Central Americans.
The loss means the United States must now secure at least a draw against group leaders Uruguay in their final group match to maintain hopes of progressing to the knockout stages. Uruguay, after a resounding 5-0 win over Bolivia in East Rutherford, have nearly secured their spot in the quarterfinals.
Reflecting on the defeat, US coach Gregg Berhalter identified Weah’s red card as the pivotal moment, labeling it as “silly” and acknowledging its significant impact on the match. Despite playing with ten men, Berhalter praised his team’s resilience, noting their close call to salvaging a point.
Weah himself took to social media to express remorse for his actions, apologizing to teammates, coaches, family, and fans for his “moment of frustration” that led to his dismissal.
The Americans almost equalized in the 81st minute when Weston McKennie set up Ricardo Pepi, but his header was comfortably saved by Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera. However, Panama capitalized on a chance in the 83rd minute when Fajardo converted Abdiel Ayarza’s cross to seal the victory.
The match saw a tense finale with Panama’s Adalberto Carrasquilla sent off for a challenge on US captain Christian Pulisic in stoppage time. Despite the defeat, US midfielder Tyler Adams praised the team’s effort and resilience, emphasizing the need to control emotions in high-pressure situations.
Looking ahead, Adams highlighted that Weah had apologized to the team, emphasizing his respect for the squad’s determination and effort throughout the match, even after going down to ten men.
In contrast, Uruguay displayed dominant form in their match against Bolivia, securing a convincing victory with goals from Facundo Pellistri, Darwin Nunez, Maximiliano Araujo, Federico Valverde, and Rodrigo Bentancur at MetLife Stadium. AFP
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Publish date : 2024-06-27 23:50:40
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