Pulisic is known as the role model for U.S. Soccer and is always extremely calm and measured when it comes to USMNT games and media interviews, but he was furious after a nasty tackle by the Panama player. After being kicked to the ground Pulisic immediately got up and charged at Carrasquilla, shoulder-barging him onto the turf.
The incident happened as the referee already had the red card out for Carrasquilla, and Pulisic risked also receiving punishment for his reaction. The referee decided not to take any further action with Pulisic and restarted play as soon as possible but it was a moment which symbolized the way tensions were running high on a frustrating night for the United States in Atlanta.
In the hectic Copa America match between the U.S. and Panama, there were two red cards shown and several brutal tackles as tensions flared. But it was Panama that secured the shock win, and the USMNT is in danger of being eliminated during the group stages.
The bad blood started inside 17 minutes as Timothy Weah was shown a red card for hitting Panama's Roderick Miller in the back of the head. The USMNT took the lead through a stunning goal by Folarin Balogun shortly after, but Cesar Blackman then tied the game.
Jose Fajardo then gave Panama the lead with just seven minutes remaining, and it was clear that the nation was prepared to do whatever it took to stop the USMNT as bad tackles started flying in. Panama held on, despite the late red card, and now the USMNT is on the brink of elimination unless they can secure a huge victory in its final game.
It all comes down to July 1 for the USMNT, who faces group favorites Uruguay in the final match before the knockout rounds. The U.S. has already faced the two weaker nations in the group, earning a 2-0 win over Bolivia before its second game against Panama.
Uruguay beat Panama 3-1 in its opening group game, meaning that a win on Thursday for the USMNT would have almost guaranteed its progression to the knockout rounds. However, the USMNT is now tied on three points with Panama with one game remaining, meaning they may have to beat Uruguay to progress.
The USMNT is also tied on points with Uruguay, but they still have to face Bolivia in Game 2 of the group. Uruguay is expected to win, and comfortably, meaning that unless there's another major shock they'll be on six points heading into the final game against the USMNT.
Panama faces Bolivia in its final group game, and are major favorite. Only the top two teams progress from each group, meaning that the USMNT has to beat Uruguay to have a chance of advancing. Should they get eliminated in the group stages, head coach Gregg Berhalter will be under serious pressure.
Copa America was meant to be the perfect warm-up tournament for the USMNT before it hosts the 2026 World Cup, and exiting the competition early would be a major blow. A win over Uruguay would lift spirits and potentially propel the team, but under Berhalter, the USMNT has only beaten two teams inside the top 20 of FIFA's rankings - Iran and Mexico, and Uruguay is currently ranked 11th.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Most Popular
Comments / 0