Sunday , November 24 2024

Panama beats USA to keep quarter-final hopes alive

Atlanta, June 28 (HS). Jose Fajardo's last-minute goal helped Panama beat the United States (USA) 2-1 on Thursday to keep their hopes alive of reaching the Copa America quarter-finals.

The US host team was reduced to 10 players in the 18th minute at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when Timothy Weah was shown a red card for shoving Roderick Miller.

Despite the setback, the United States took the lead four minutes later in the 22nd minute through Folarin Balogun, who combined with Antonee Robinson to shoot a left-footed shot into the top-right corner.

In the 26th minute of the match, right back Cesar Blackman scored a brilliant goal from 18 yards to give Panama a 1-1 draw.

Panama controlled nearly 75% of the ball and completed nearly three times as many passes as the United States.

In the 83rd minute of the match, Fajardo put Panama ahead 2–1 by scoring from 12 yards on a pass from Abdiel Ayarza and this score ultimately proved to be decisive.

With the win, Thomas Christiansen's Panama side are now third in Group C, on equal points with Uruguay and the United States but with an inferior goal difference.