Panama upsets U.S. on penalty kicks to reach CONCACAF Gold Cup final

Associated Press
Wednesday, July 12, 2023 11:17 p.m. | Wednesday, July 12, 2023 11:17 p.m.

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U.S. forward Jesús Ferreira, center, reacts to a missed opportunity to score during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal match against Panama in San Diego.

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Panama defender Ivan Anderson celebrates his goal during extra time of a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal soccer match against the United States in San Diego.

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Panama players celebrate a goal by defender Ivan Anderson during extra time of a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal soccer match against the United States, Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in San Diego.

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Panama defender Ivan Anderson, avove celebrates his goal with teammate forward Ismael Díaz during extra time of a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal soccer match against the United States, Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in San Diego.

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U.S. forward Jesús Ferreira (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring during extra time of a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal soccer match against Panama, Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in San Diego.

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U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner blocks a shot on goal by Panama midfielder Jovani Welch during extra time of a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal soccer match Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO — Adalberto Carrasquilla converted the decisive penalty kick after Cristian Roldan failed to convert his attempt, and Panama beat the defending champion United States 5-4 in a shootout after a 1-1 tie on Wednesday night to reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Mexico or Jamaica.

Iván Anderson scored his first international goal in the ninth minute of extra time, and Jesús Ferreira tied the score for the U.S. six minutes later.

After beating Canada on penalty kicks in Sunday’s quarterfinal, the U.S. went to a second shootout for the first time in a Gold Cup.

Panama reached the final for the third time after losing to the U.S. in 2005 and 2013. Mexico played Jamaica at Las Vegas later Wednesday.

The U.S., a seven-time winner of the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, failed to reach the final for the first time since losing to Jamaica in a 2015 semifinal.

The game marked the finale of B.J. Callaghan, who led the U.S. to five wins, one loss and one draw as the Americans’ second interim coach this year. Gregg Berhalter returns for the Sept. 9 exhibition against Uzbekistan.

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.

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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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