The United States Men’s National Team was back in action for its second game of the 2024 Copa América tournament against Panama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The U.S. team was fresh off a 2-0 win over Bolivia thanks to goals from Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun. Panama lost its Copa America opener 3-1 to Uruguay.
Things were testy early and often in Atlanta as a quick red card put the U.S. on the back foot for much of the match. A late goal sealed the team’s first tournament loss, 2-1.
Forward Tim Weah was given a red card in the 18th minute and left the U.S. competing with 10 players for the rest of the match. Balogun gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute only for Panama to equalize minutes later on a goal by César Blackman. José Fajardo scored the go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute to give Panama the victory.
Panama controlled possession for much of the match and had more than double the number of shot attempts (13 to six for the U.S.). They also racked up 18 fouls over the course of the match, including some in key moments in the second half. The U.S. couldn’t capitalize on them or when Panama’s Adalberto Carrasquilla was given a red card in the 88th minute.
This complicates things for the U.S. heading into the final match of group play. A win or draw would’ve made things easier to reach the knockout stage but a loss means they’ll likely have to win their next match.
Copa America 2024:Updated power ranking for all 16 teams
The U.S. plays its final game of Group C play on Monday against one of the top teams in the tournament: Uruguay. They likely need a win to ensure they’ll make the knockout rounds of the Copa America tournament. If they lose or draw against Uruguay, they’re likely out of contention as it stands right now. More will be known after the Uruguay vs. Bolivia game.
Both teams had early chances at scoring. Panama’s chance sailed just over the goal and the U.S. actually scored before the goal was taken back after review.
Tim Weah’s red card changed the game in Panama’s favor early on as the U.S. was down a man for the rest of the match.
Balogun opened the scoring just minutes later with an impressive shot off of his left foot to bounce on the far post and in.
But Panama answered minutes later to tie it up on Blackman’s shot that sailed just outside of U.S. goalie Matt Turner’s right hand.
The sides stayed tied for much of the second half even with the U.S. operating with backup goalie Ethan Horvath after a hard hit injured Turner. Pulisic and Weston McKennie both had close chances at a goal but couldn’t connect. Instead, Panama’s Fajardo scored the go-ahead goal with barely 10 minutes left in the match.
A red card on Panama in the 88th minute evened the sides but it was too late. Pulisic tried to find Chris Richards for a late equalizer on a free kick to the box but Richards was too early and missed the net. Minutes later, the game ended with Panama earning the victory.
After another foul, Christian Pulisic fired a shot to the box but Chris Richards’ header sailed over the goal.
Adalberto Carrasquilla earned the first red card of the game for the Panama side on a hard foul on Christian Pulisic. Now both sides are down to 10 men. The U.S.’s Chris Richards was given a yellow card after the foul as well.
Panama earns a late go-ahead goal from José Fajardo off an assist from Abdiel Ayarza in the 83rd minute.
McKennie’s speed gets the ball into the right side of the box. A perfectly placed cross wasn’t enough for Pepi to get power on the ball to score off a header. Still a pretty great moment.
Panama gets in another sub in 76th minute, bringing in Abdiel Ayarza for Cristian Martínez.
Balogun has been one of the key reasons the United States has not only been in this game but also been on the right side of memorable attacks. Ricardo Pepi comes in for relief. (’72)
Pulisic took the ball up the left side and danced his way into an outlet pass to Balogun who nearly got enough of the ball for a magical moment. US will now make a substitution.
Carter-Vickers indeed made a questionable play on the ball. But after review, the official saw that there was no contact to garner a penalty. The US can breathe a sigh of relief.
Panama will have a penalty kick after Cameron Carter-Vickers’s slide tackle in the box. It’s being reviewed at the moment, so perhaps this will be overruled.
With an advantage in manpower, Panama makes an early substitution and brings on Freddy Góndola for César Blackman.
Ethan Horvath, in for Matt Turner who took a collision earlier in the game, parries a shot (’51) from Edgardo Fariña. Scary moment in the early moments.
Per Fox coverage, Berhalter’s side will go to a 5-3-1 formation to start the half. As the second half kicks off, it’s two sides feeling the other out with the United States looking for consistent possession.
The USMNT is down a player thanks to Tim Weah’s red card miscue in the 18th minute. It’s evident that Panama is not afraid to attack. Not content to get a share of the points, this is sure to be as aggressive a half as we have seen.
The first half ends with a 1-1 draw in Atlanta. It’s been a scrappy affair with each team exchanging blows of the figurative and literal variety.
Balogun got a breakaway chance and powered a shot on goal that deflected off the crossbar. An assistant referee ruled the play offside afterward.
Panama’s Eduardo Guerrero was given the side’s first yellow card of the game after a hard hit on Joe Scally.
Pulisic had a run in the box but contact from multiple Panama players ended the chance before he could attempt a shot on goal.
The U.S. defender earned a yellow for his contact on Panama’s Cristian Martínez.
Panama notched the equalizer in the 27th minute as César Blackman’s shot on goal was just outside of keeper Matt Turner’s right hand.
Folarin Balogun fired a shot off his left foot from the edge of the box. It bounced off the far post and into the goal for the first score of the game and his second of the tournament.
Tim Weah’s yellow card was upgraded to a red upon review and he’s been sent off for the American side.
Turner went up to grab the ball in the box before colliding with César Blackman. After a few minutes, he’s back on his feet.
Weston McKennie nearly had his first goal of the tournament but official review overturned the goal.
It took just minutes for Panama’s first great chance at a shot on goal, this one coming on a bicycle kick by Édgar Bárcenas.
This year’s Copa America will be broadcast across multiple channels throughout the next three weeks. Here’s where you can find the action:
According to BetMGM, the USA is the heavy favorite to beat Panama in the second game of the Copa America tournament.
Odds as of Thursday:
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Joe Tansey writes: “Panama will be a tougher foe than Bolivia. The team is more talented than the South American side and is coming off a 3-1 loss to Uruguay that was 1-0 until chaos broke out in the final five minutes. However, the USMNT should control the contest and will have the better chances throughout the 90 minutes. Berhalter could reward Pepi’s second-half effort against Bolivia with a start, or he could ride with Balogun up top and hope he is more lethal in front of goal. Regardless of who starts at striker, Pulisic will be the key to the U.S. attack. He was the catalyst for Sunday’s fast start and scored with a great strike to produce an early lead.”
Staff writes: “MasseyRatings has the USMNT 18th overall in their power ratings with Panama clocking in 41st. Their game model views the United States as 53% likely to get the win and move to 2-0-0 in Copa America 2024’s Group Stage.”
Jason Ence writes: “Seven of Panama’s last nine competitive fixtures have featured 3+ goals, including a 3-0 defeat to Mexico and the 3-1 loss to Uruguay. And while the clean sheet against Bolivia was the second competitive one in a row for the Yanks, it was also one of only three matches from their last nine competitive outings that featured fewer than three goals. Panama doesn’t tend to do well when they play on American soil, having conceded 15 goals in their last four visits. The USA will be looking to rack up some goals to keep up with Uruguay for tie-breaker purposes, but also will face a bit more threat to their back line. All these factors should lead to at least three goals being scored on Thursday night. “
Staff writes: “We are predicting the United States to win, with a 73.0% chance of winning this match, based on the moneyline.”
Remaining Group C games for the USA and Panama:
Panama will face the USA at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The game will kick off at 6 p.m. ET.
The first match of the day between the Panama and United States kicks off at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the second match between Uruguay and Bolivia at 9 p.m. ET.
The CONMEBOL Copa América is the premier men’s quadrennial football tournament contested among national teams from South America with guest teams invited into the tournament. It is the oldest continental football competition still in existence. Argentina and Uruguay have the most championships in tournament history, with 15 titles each.
Sixteen teams compete in four groups of four. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals. The winners of the quarterfinal matches move on to the semifinals, and the winners proceed to the final.
The 2024 Copa America champion will be determined on July 14th at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Here are the venues that Copa America games will be played throughout the tournament.
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)
Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Giovanni Reyna (Nottingham Forest), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry City)
Goalkeepers: Orlando Mosquera (Maccabi Tel-Aviv), Luis Mejía (Club Nacional), César Samudio (CD Marathón)
Defenders: Eduardo Anderson (Deportivo Saprissa), José Córdoba (Levski Sofía), Éric Davis (FC Kosice), Iván Anderson (Fortaleza CEIF), Michael Murillo (Marseille), Cesar Blackman (Slovan Bratislava), Edgardo Fariña (Municipal), Roderick Miller (Turan Tovuz IK), Omar Valencia (New York Red Bulls), Carlos Harvey (Minnesota United), Harold Cummings (Xelajú)
Midfielders: Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo), Cristian Martínez (Al-Jandal SC), José Luis Rodríguez (Famalicão), Édgar Bárcenas (Mazatlán), Jovani Welch (Académico Viseu FC), Freddy Góndola (Maccabi Bnei Reineh), Abdiel Ayarza (Cienciano), César Yanis (AD San Carlos), Kahiser Lenis (Jaguares de Córdoba)
Forwards: Ismael Díaz (CD Universidad Católica), José Fajardo (CD Universidad Católica), Eduardo Guerrero (Zorya Lugansk)
Michael Murillo: Michael Murillo, the fullback for Marseille, scored Panama’s only goal against Uruguay in the tournament’s opening match during extra time, demonstrating that he is a significant asset for his team. Murillo has the ability to score goals and take on opponents individually, displaying his leadership for Panama.
Christian Pulisic: All attention is on Christian Pulisic, also known as Captain America, who sparked the USMNT’s campaign with a goal against Bolivia within the first three minutes of the opening match.
The AC Milan midfielder has been the figurehead of the USA team, recognized for bringing together the stars and stripes and delivering in important games. Pulisic also assisted Folarin Balogun’s goal, helping the USA defeat Bolivia 2-0 and make a winning start to their Copa America campaign.
The various venues for Copa America 2024 venue are selling tickets individually for each game played at their stadium through their preferred ticket partners. Those include sites such as StubHub or SeatGeek.
The tickets to the United States’ second match against Panama in Atlanta, Georgia are currently available on SeatGeek for as little as $66 per ticket. Meanwhile, tickets to the Copa America Finals in Miami are available on StubHub with the cheapest tickets going for $689.
Copa Live:Shop 2024 Copa America tickets with StuHub
The United States Men’s National Team will be participating in its first Olympic tournament since 2008.
The USMNT has been placed in Group A along with host nation France, New Zealand, and the winner of the Asia-Africa playoff. The USMNT’s first match will be against France in Marseille on July 24th. The USA has never faced France or New Zealand at the Olympics.
Schedule according to USSoccer.com:
Wednesday, July 24:
Saturday, July 27:
Tuesday, July 30:
The USA has participated in the Copa America tournament five times, in 1993, 1995, 2007, 2016 and 2024. The USMNT’s best performances were in 1995 and 2016, when they reached the semi-finals.
Panama has participated twice in the Copa America tournament, in 2016 and 2024. In their first appearance, they did not advance past the group stage and have never won the title.
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