The U.S. men’s national team can take a major step toward qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a win against Panama tonight in Orlando. (7 p,m. ET, Fox Sports 1).
Gregg Berhalter’s side hosts the Canaleros at Exploria Stadium, knowing Costa Rica and Mexico remain right behind them in the race for automatic qualification into Qatar 2022. A 2-1 road win The Ticos in El Salvador earlier on Sunday has tied Costa Rica on 22 points with the USMNT and El Tri heading into Sunday’s matches. Costa Rica’s win means the USMNT cannot clinch a World Cup berth tonight.
Panama needs to earn three points to stay alive in the race for automatic qualification and has already defeated the USMNT once in the octagonal round. Thomas Christiansen’s side has only won one of its last four qualifiers which makes Sunday’s road trip to Orlando very important.
Shaq Moore joined the USMNT squad and has jumped right into Berhalter’s starting lineup tonight. Luca De La Torre, Jesus Ferreira, and Paul Arriola have also been included in the starting lineup after being on the bench for Thursday’s 0-0 draw at Mexico.
Here is a closer look at the USMNT starting lineup:
SBI’s editorial staff will provide some updates and insights in the comments section. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions as well.
Enjoy the action.
Fortunately Panamas last goal, didn’t change the fact that Costa Rica need to still win by 6 on Wednesday night. As a bonus, the ticos can’t lose the 4th place spot, so no need to do anything stupid, to jeopardize, their chances against oceana. If we were a 96% chance to advance last time around with one game to go, this time we are a 99.7% this time around.
FT: USMNT 5 – Panama 1. Christian Pulisic registers a first international hat trick and the Americans dominated from the opening whistle. It is a result that all but ensures a spot in Qatar for the USMNT, unless the Americans lose by a lopsided scoreline in Costa Rica on Wednesday.
LOPSIDED! CR must score 10 more goals than the US to tie, 11 to win! That is beyond lopsided.
5-1 USMNT now as Anibal Godoy heads home into the bottom-left corner. Godoy was called for two penalties in the first-half, but pulls one goal back at least for pride.
Gianluca Busio and Jordan Morris on for Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams respectively. Great night for Pulisic and a lot of solid work done by Adams. 73′
Nossa technico tem saco
Christian Pulisic wraps up his hat trick with a fancy move in the box and a cool finish. 5-0 #USMNT
Gio Reyna already being a nuisance in the second half for Panama. Good passing, good running. Challenging defenders.
He is a weak defender tho and unbalanced his side of the field defensively in both of these games in this window. Why am I the only one who will mention this? He’s great in attack, great in attack. But he cheats up high on his recovery which will burn us eventually
notice the change to our right flank d since half time? Panama getting many opportunites that way
4 nil is not enough…. Bring on reinforcements! Keep it professional captain, you’re closing in on a hat trick. We can apply better pressure both offensively and defensively, let’s do it. If we can hit them in transition, on the counter a little quicker, three or four more are possible. We can bring on long and go three at the back. That’s going to start Wednesday night
Arriola not only covered on every d assignment so far, but going forward too
HT: USMNT 4 – Panama 0. Christian Pulisic with two PK goals, Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola each with a goal to their names. Amazing effort and dominant offensively. I would think Berhalter makes a few changes at halftime.
everybody feeling ok? ;->
GOAL! Christian Pulisic steps up and beats Mejia to the bottom-right corner. His second PK finish of the half. 4-0 USMNT.
PENALTY! Anibal Godoy fouls Miles Robinson, giving the USMNT a second penalty kick chance before halftime. Godoy also is given a yellow card.
USMNT continuing to deliver chances in the offensive end. Another great cross from Antonee Robinson, but Ferreira’s overhead kick goes over the goal. 43′
As it stands, Panama would be eliminated from contention. It would be Mexico, USMNT, and Costa Rica fighting for final two automatic spots.
Jesus Ferreira scores after a failed clearance from Panama in the box. Simple tap-in for the in-form FC Dallas forward. 3-0 USMNT.
Paul Arriola delivers his ninth career USMNT goal and his second in qualifying play, first in octaonal round.
Paul Arriola is the shortest USMNT player on the field but still managed to get up for that header to make it 2-0 USA. 25th minute.
Paul Arriola rises high to head home an Antonee Robinson cross. 2-0 USMNT and pressure is now on Panama to avoid a rout tonight.
A poor giveaway by Antonee Robinson and Zack Steffen makes a crucial touch on a cross on the right wing. Eventually #USMNT clears. Steffen is down getting treatment.
Zack Steffen is wincing in pain, and is being treated by USMNT trainers. Looks like he collided with Walker Zimmerman.
The USMNT should keep the pressure on here. Panama will open up now and try to hit back.
GOAL! Christian Pulisic steps up and scores to give the USMNT a 1-0 first-half lead. 17′
PENALTY! VAR rules in favor of a penalty kick after Anibal Godoy caught Walker Zimmerman up high off a corner. 16′
VAR check coming. Anibal Godoy with two hands up high on Walker Zimmerman off a corner kick. Zimmerman went down.
Walker Zimmerman appeared to be pulled down in the penalty area. VAR is reviewing it.
Good evening all, the USMNT takes on Panama with three points needed following Costa Rica’s 2-1 win over El Salvador earlier today. The Americans have piled on early pressure so far.