USA hit Panama for six
The United States men's national team crushed Panama in Austria in their second game of the November international break. Next time they meet will be for the World Cup qualifiers.
The United States faced Panama as their second and last exhibition match prior to the beginning of the World Cup qualifiers in CONCACAF. The USMNT defeated 6-2 Panama and three more players made their first international appearance. Head coach Gregg Berhlater wanted goals for this game and he got them.
Sebastian Soto, Giovanni Reyna and Nicholas Gioacchini scored their first goals with the United States. Soto and Gioacchini had a brace each, while the Borussia Dortmund midfielder scored once from a set piece.
Panama scored first
José Tejada would score first and shock the United States in the eight minute. Panama’s high pressure paid off and the USMNT couldn’t react in the first 15 minutes of the game. It was not until the 18 minute that the United States was awarded a free kick and Gio Reyna striked for the equalizer and scored his first goal with the national team in his second appearance.
Nicholas Gioacchini missed a penalty kick
Then it was Nicholas Gioachinni’s show, for the good and bad. In the 22 minute, the 20-year-old scored his first goal with the U.S. and four minutes later he would score again. The United States ended the first 45 minutes with the lead 3-1.
During the second half Gioacchini would miss a penalty kick, in what could’ve been his first hat-trick with the United States. In the first 15 minutes of the second half, Panama wanted an early goal and they got it. José Fajardo shot a cannon to score his second goal of the game and the score was 3-2 with a lot of time left.
Sebastian Soto had come in replacing Gioacchini and in his debut he would header the ball finding the back of the net in the 83 minute. Four minutes later another Sebastian, Lletget, would score his third goal with the USMNT and in stoppage time Ledezma with the beautiful assist to Soto who again headered the ball to score his brace.
In this November camp 9 players made their debut with the national team with coach Gregg Berhalter. In June 2021 the USMNT will play the CONCACAF Nations League and Berhlater is requesting a mini camp in December with MLS players only.