SAN DIEGO, July 13: After winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup with its junior varsity two years ago, the United States failed to repeat.
Adalberto Carrasquilla converted the decisive penalty kick after Cristian Roldan was stopped in his attempt, and Panama beat the Americans 5-4 in a shootout following a 1-1 tie on Wednesday night to reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Mexico.
“There’s a lot of learning lessons that we’re all going to take away as we now continue our preparation to the path of 2026,” US interim coach B.J. Callaghan said, looking ahead to the Americans co-hosting the World Cup.Ivan Anderson put No. 57 Panama ahead in the ninth minute of extra time with his first international goal, and Jesús Ferreira tied the score six minutes later for the 11th-ranked US
Panama reached the final for the third time after losing to the US in 2005 and 2013. Panama will play Mexico, an eight-time champion, on Sunday at Inglewood, California.
The game marked the finale of Callaghan, who led the US to five wins, one loss and one draw as the Americans’ second interim coach this year. The US had just 34% possession in the first half.American Cade Cowell hit a post about 20 seconds in and that was the closest to a goal until Panama went ahead nine minutes into extra time.
Carrasquilla played a through pass to Anderson, who was kept onside by DeAndre Yedlin. Anderson took a touch and played the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Matt Turner, then kicked the ball into the open net for his first international goal.
Turner, who saved two penalty kicks against Canada, was the only US player on the field who saw extensive time at last year’s World Cup.
Ferreira scored six minutes later after Matt Miazga played a long pass to Jordan Morris, who headed the ball into the penalty area. Ferreira volleyed the ball with his right shin from 16 yards past the outstretched left hand of a diving Orlando Mosquera for his 15th international goal, his seventh of the tournament
With the US going first in the shootout, Ferreira was stopped by Mosquera. Fidel Escobar and Ismael Díaz beat Turner, while Djordje Mihailovic and Morris were successful for the US Turner dove to his left to stop Christian Martínez and Julian Gressel and Miazga converted around Édgar Bárcenas successful kick for Panama, leaving the U.S. ahead 4-3.
Cecilio Waterman tied the score with Panama’s fifth shot, Mosquera dove right to parry Roldan’s attempt and Carrasquilla put his shot inside Turner’s right post.
Mexico beat Jamaica
Henry Martín scored 80 seconds in, Luis Chávez converted a free kick in the 30th minute and Mexico beat Jamaica 3-0 Wednesday night to reach its 11th CONCACAF Gold Cup final.
Roberto Alvarado added a goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage time as Mexico advanced to play Panama on Sunday at Inglewood, California. El Tri, under interim coach Jaime Lozano, is seeking a ninth Gold Cup title.
Martín scored his ninth international goal and third of the tournament, settling the ball with a touch after Jesús Gallardo’s cross and beating Andre Blake from 8 yards.
Chavez curled a 25-yard free kick to Blake’s upper right corner for his fourth international goal and third of the tournament.
Alvarado got his fifth goal when he tapped in a pass from Gallardo. (PTI)