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Anibal Godoy scored in the 54th minute and Panama knocked down the United States 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday night when American coach Gregg Berhalter started a largely second-placed formation. chain in the middle of another hectic streak of three matches in seven days.
Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie were injured, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson were on the bench and Antonee Robinson did not travel due to UK restrictions on Covid-19 which would have required a quarantine on her return to England.
With American training far from at its best, the Americans seemed both nervous and over-amplified during the stretches of the first half. Adams came in early in the second half and gave a corner that led to the goal on a ball he might have been able to clear. Eric Davis’ corner was led by Godoy past goalkeeper Matt Turner and inside the far post, prompting a three-quarter-full crowd to shake up Estadio Rommel Fernandez.
Aaronson gave the United States more energy and pace, and Ricardo Pepi, DeAndre Yedlin and Christian Roldan entered in 67th. In the last eventful minutes, the match was interrupted twice as fans ran onto the pitch and a ball was thrown from the stands.
Sunday’s loss means the United States have eight points after five of 14 games. They sit second in the qualifying draw, ahead of Panama on goal difference, heading into Wednesday night’s game against Costa Rica in Columbus, Ohio. Canada is in fourth place after drawing 0-0 against Jamaica. The first three nations advance and the # 4 team advance to the playoffs.
The loss ended a 13-game unbeaten streak for the Americans, including 11 wins. The match took place on the fourth anniversary of the 2-1 loss to Trinidad that ended a seven-match World Cup streak for the United States, a loss that saw Panama reach the World Cup for the first time.
Berhalter changed seven starters in Thursday’s 2-0 home win over Jamaica, inserting Gyasi Zardes, Kellyn Acosta, Sebastian Lletget, Tim Weah, Shaq Moore, Mark McKenzie and George Bello. They joined Turner and three other survivors: Walker Zimmerman, Yunus Musah, and Paul Arriola. Panama used the same starting lineup in their first three qualifying games and nine of 11 that started Thursday’s 1-0 loss to El Salvador.
Acosta repeatedly hit corners and free kicks in the opening minutes.
Panama nearly took the lead in the 14th minute when Freddy Gondola ran into an open Rolando Blackburn, who was unable to step on the ball in front of the net.
Davis’ corner kick was deflected past the far post in the 27th minute. Turner placed a cross over the crossbar in the 28th, and in the 34th he reached out his right arm to deflect Gondola’s point blank shot after Acosta’s gift, only for Panama to be whistled for. off-side. Turner tipped Edgar Barcenas’ shot over the bar in the 45th.
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