Cecilio Waterman scored a stoppage-time winner as Panama shocked the United States 1-0 in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals, eliminating the defending champions and handing Mauricio Pochettino a nightmare start in his first competitive match as USMNT head coach.
The dramatic finish at SoFi Stadium saw Waterman fire a low angled shot past goalkeeper Matt Turner in the 94th minute, sending Panama into Sunday’s final against either Mexico or Canada.
Pochettino: “Really Painful”
After the defeat, a visibly frustrated Pochettino admitted the USMNT lacked intensity.
“I am very, very disappointed. The way we approached the game wasn’t right. We didn’t show aggression with or without the ball,” he said. “The first half was really painful.”
Despite dominating possession, the USA struggled to break down Panama’s compact defense.
Missed Chances Cost the USA
The Americans had several golden opportunities:
- Josh Sargent (19’) saw his shot deflected towards goal but saved.
- Weston McKennie (21’) had a header denied by Panama’s Orlando Mosquera.
- Sargent (25’) thought he had scored, only for the goal to be ruled offside.
- Patrick Agyemang (82’) had a clear chance but was denied by Mosquera.
With extra time looming, a costly turnover in midfield allowed Adalberto Carrasquilla to set up Waterman, who made no mistake with his finish.
Panama’s Dominance Over the USA Continues
This defeat extends the USMNT’s winless streak against Panama to three matches in official competitions, following a 2-1 loss at the Copa América and a 1-1 draw in the 2023 Gold Cup.
Pochettino acknowledged the pattern:
“The last three times we faced Panama in an official competition, we couldn’t beat them. That’s something we need to solve together.”
Meanwhile, Panama coach Thomas Christiansen praised his team’s determination:
“I am very happy for the players—they fought like crazy.”
What’s Next?
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- Panama advance to the CONCACAF Nations League final on Sunday.
- USA will play in the third-place match, hoping to salvage some pride.
- Pochettino faces early pressure, needing to fix tactical issues before the Copa América this summer.
