US suffers heartache in Gold Cup penalty shootout at the hands of Panama despite Jesus Ferreira’s extra time stunner…as minnows seal their first final appearance in a decade
- USA are the CONCACAF Gold Cup holders, but they will not be in the final
- Adalberto Carrasquilla converted the winning penalty for minnows Panama
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The reigning Gold Cup champion USA has been dumped from this year’s tournament after suffering a heartbreak from penalties at the hands of Panama – despite a stunning extra-time equalizer from Jesus Ferreira.
Adalberto Carrasquilla converted the decisive penalty after Cristian Roldan failed to convert his attempt, and Panama defeated 5-4 in the shootout on Wednesday night after a 1-1 draw.
Panama will take on Mexico or Jamaica in Sunday’s final – the country’s first appearance in the showpiece since 2013.
Iván Anderson scored his first international goal in the ninth minute of extra time, and Jesús Ferreira tied the score for the USA six minutes later.
After beating Canada on penalties in Sunday’s quarter-final, the US went to a second shootout in a Gold Cup for the first time.
Panama players celebrate after reaching their first Gold Cup final since 2013 in San Diego, CA
Brandon Vazquez reacts after the Star & Stripes missed their first Gold Cup final since 2003
Matt Turner’s heroism was not enough for the US to progress via penalties for a second time
Panama reached the final for the third time after losing to the US in 2005 and 2013. Mexico later played Jamaica in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
The USA, a seven-time winner of the North and Central America and Caribbean Championship, failed to reach the final for the first time since losing to Jamaica in a 2015 semifinal.
The game marked the final of BJ Callaghan, who led the U.S. to five wins, one loss and one tie this year as the Americans’ second interim coach. Gregg Berhalter returns for the September 9 exhibition game against Uzbekistan.
American Cade Cowell hit a post after about 20 seconds and was the closest thing to a goal until Panama took the lead nine minutes into extra time.
Carrasquilla played a through ball to Anderson, who was kept offside by DeAndre Yedlin. Anderson took a touch and then played the ball past onrushing goaltender Matt Turner kicked the ball into the open net for his first international goal.
The US players line up on Wednesday during the penalty shootout against Panama in San Diego
BJ Callahan will now step down as manager to make way for the return of Gregg Berhalter
The Panama players celebrate their victory – and they now play in the final on Sunday
Ferreira scored six minutes later after Matt Miazga played a long pass to Jordan Morris, who headed the ball into the box. Ferreira volleyed the ball with his right shin from 16 yards out past the outstretched left hand of a diving Orlando Mosquera for his 15th international goal, his seventh of the tournament
With the US first in the shootout, Ferreira was stopped by Mosquera.
Fidel Escobar and Ismael Díaz defeated Turner, while Djordje Mihailovic and Morris were successful for the US. Turner dove left to stop Christian Martínez and Julian Gressel and Miazga converted around Édgar Bárcena’s successful kick for Panama to put the U.S. ahead 4–3.
Cecilio Waterman tied the score with Panama’s fifth shot, Mosquera dove right to parry Roldan’s effort and Carrasquilla fired his shot inside Turner’s right post.