Panama vs USA summary: score, goals, highlights, World Cup 2022 qualifier
Panama vs USA
Last chance saloon for the US here as the whistle sounds and the Estadio Rommel Fernández erupts as the home fans celebrate a famous win over the USA
Another fan runs onto the pitch and more time will be added....
Over exuberant fans already storm the pitch and the ref stops the game...
Panama are good value for their win. They were the hungrier side on the balance of play and came out with a better attitude in the second half.
Three of the seven minutes played , the Panama bench too doing their bit waiving manically, Simeone style as the fans are poised to celebrate a famous win.
We'll have seven minutes of added time... The local fans are in a frenzy now as the US probe looking for the equaliser.
Gregg Berhalter's face says it all in this pic from the Estadio Rommel Fernández
Changes for Panama. Ayarza on for Martinez and Yanis finally on for Quintero.
Five minutes plus stoppage for Panama to hold on and record a famous victory over the USMNT
Acosta is okay but is sporting a heavy bandage and it appears that has been given some stitches by the Panama medical staff.
Yanis poise to come on for Panama as play is still held up
Cooper and Acosta are getting attention with the Panama medical team having to signal to the bench indicating that their player cannot continue. A nasty but accidental clash of heads between both men.
Just over ten minutes for Gregg Berhalters's men to salvage something from the game. Luis Mejia in the Panama goal, has once again been the qjuieter of the two stoppers tonght.
Stephens carded for a rash challenge on Acosta, first name taken tonight by the Mexican match official
As things stand, this result would propel Panama into third place and an automatic ticket to Qatar next year. There is still a long way to go but the Canaleros have been impressive tonight.
Guerrero and Cooper on for Panama with Godoy and Blackburn making way
Yedlin almost scores after coming on with his shot going feet wide of the Panama goal.
Shaq Moore off / Yedlin on | Zardes off / Pepi on | Weah off / Roldan on
Three changes for the US....
Gregg Berhalter giving instructions to a series of subs warming up for the US team. The first half was an even contest but Panama are well in control of the situation now.
Ole's ringing out from the local fans as Panama once again carve open the US side.
Just past the hour mark in Panama City and the US look shell-shocked by the Godoy goal. Panama enjoying the better of possession now with the crowd doing a fine job in rallying the men in red.
Stephens on for Gondola (Panama)
Panama win a corner as Adolfo Stephens gets ready to come one.... The corner is swung over and is in the net.... Panama take the lead and mayhem ensues at the Estadio Rommel Fernández.
Barcenas has picked up a knock and seems to be in some distress. The Leganes man gets to his feet and grimaces but looks okay to continue.
Panama will be anxious for another taste of the World Cup experience after qualifying for Russia 2018, a tournament that incidentally the US missed out on.
Arriola too has been replaced by Brenden Aaronson
Tyler Adams has been replaced by Musah at the interval
Panama start the second half
Jamaica-Canada and Mexico-Honduras are 0-0.
Minutes away from the start of the second half in Panama City. Just one goal to report from the four games currently underway in the group with El Salvador 0-1 up against Costa Rica.
It's been fast and furious and a battle primarily in the central areas but at the end of the first 45', it's Panama 0-0 USA
One minute of time to be added... another Panama corner as the whistle sounds to signal the interval.
Sooooo close... Panama knocking on the door as once again Turner does well in tipping over a fine effort that was destined for the top corner.
Panama very much on top at the moment with the clock ticking towards the 45 minute mark.
Zero shots on target from either side is very reflective of the midfield battle here at the Estadio Rommel Fernández
Turner once again called into action as he intercepts a Gondola cross. The USMNT stopper has certainly been the busier of the two keeepers so far tonight.
Shaq Moore has a go from long range but the Tenerife player screws his effort well wide.
Gondola breaks into the box and forces a fine stop from the US keeper but it wouldn't have counted with the Panama No. 17 offside
Into the final 15' of the half we go. Still 0-0 here in Panama City with an evenly balanced game being played out
Panama go close once again as the ball is almost driven in straight from the corner. Same thing again....Turner tips away a goal bound effort from the corner flag...
Freddy Gondola for Panama has impressed and one senses the danger he presents each time he is on the ball.
DC United striker Pul Arriola appeals for a penalty deeming he had been pulled but the Mexican ref waves away the appeal. The game is being played at a decent tempo but all possession based play with little or nothing in terms of clear cut scoring chances.
We pass the 20 minute mark and to be honest neither keeper has really been tested with the exception of Panama's stopper tipping over in the early stages of the contest. The ball spending the bulk in the central area of the pitch.
Panama go close again and this time Quintero was unable to get the required purchase on the ball. Gregg Berhalter looks anxious in the US technical zone. The game is evenly balanced in terms of possession but the better half chances have fallen to Panama.
More pressure from the US with yet another corner and yet again the side in white fail to capitalize on the threat with a poor delivery
Blackburn is just inches away from applying the finishing touch as the ball is floated across from the Panama left.
The crowd really doing their bit to be the '12th' man as they bellow for every foul doing their best to exert a degree of pressure on the Mexican referee.
Corner for Panama as the ref. has a word with Shaq Moore for some rough play. Barcenas and Davis over the ball as the US manage to clear the danger.
Panama moving the ball around nicely and a delivery from the right flank is too close to keeper Matt Turner with the NE Revs man gathering easily.
A huge cheer rings out even when Panama win a throw in, heavens knows what things would be like should the Canaleros actually score.
Some very high tempo percussion going down at the Estadio Rommel Fernández as the local fans get behind the men in red.
Both sides feeling their way into the game as the US win a corner with keeper Mejia tipping over a goal bound header.
Both sides huddle as the referee sounds his whistle to start the action...off we go ....USA get the game going in their white shirts, navy shorts with the home side all in red... think Liverpool vs. Tottenham and you're in the right directuon.
All set here in Panama for the fifth set of games in the octagonal stage... it's Panama in 4th v. table topping USA.
The Panama side hail from clubs in all corner of the world with a few players plying their trade in Spanish second division teams (Alcorcon, Zaragoza ...)
Not a sell-out crowd but a decent 60% of the ground appears full. The Panama fans decked out in the red shirts as the national anthems play.
The teams take to the pitch at the Estadio Olímpico Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez where a sizeable group of Panama fans are in place with roughly 100 US fans present too in Panama City. The venue for tonight's game holds 32,000 fans.
Panama v USA: match official
Mexico's Cesar Ramos has been appointed as referee for tonight's match. He has previously officiated six USMNT matches, with the last being the team's 1-0 win against Jamaica in July, 2021.
These are the four game (match-day 5) taking place in the CONCACAF octagonal tionight
The top three placed sides in the CONCACAF octagonal group will be heading to Qatar next November with the fourth placed side having to enter a play off system facing other continental highest placed sides. At present, USA, Mexico and Canada would be off to the 2022 World Cup with Panama heading to the play-off.
Who is Panama manager Christensen?
Danish born Thomas Christiansen took over as Panama head in July, 2020, replacing American Gallego
The 48-year-old Christiansen played for several clubs in his native country, as well as Spain and Germany during a 15-year professional career. His teams included Barcelona, Sporting Gijon, Racing Santander, Oviedo and Villarreal in Spain and with Bochum and Hannover in Germany. He was the Bundesliga's joint-leading goal-scorer with Bayern Munich's Giovane Élber during the 2002-03 season. He played twice for Spain's national team, scoring one goal in a game against Lithunaia staged in Seville.
How things look ahead of game 5
US host Costa Rica after Panama game
On Wednesday 13th, the USMNT then conclude their October qualifying fixtures by hosting a so far winless Costa Rica in Columbus, with kick-off at Lower.com Field set for 7pm ET/4pm PT.
After drawing with Panama and Jamaica and losing to Mexico in their opening qualifiers in September, the Costa Ricans played out a goalless stalemate with Honduras on Thursday, to leave them lying sixth in the group, five points behind the US. Before travelling to Ohio, Luis Fernando Suárez’s side take on El Salvador in San José on Sunday.
Like the USMNT, Costa Rica have missed out on the World Cup only once so far this century. The US have won their last three games against the Costa Ricans - all friendlies - but were beaten home and away by the central Americans in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
US start as favourites
In the past, Panama has struggled against the USMNT, losing 6-2 in a friendly played in 2020 and three of their last four games against the US by three or more goals.
In fact, they haven't beaten the Americans since a penalty shootout victory at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, while having failed to win a 90-minute encounter against them since a 2-1 triumph at that same tournament four years before.
The USA will look to keep their first-place position in the final round of World Cup 2022 qualifying tonight against Panama at Estadio Rommel Fernandez.
Los Canaleros suffered their first defeat by losing 1-0 to El Salvador in their previous match, while the Americans defeated Jamaica 2-0 on Thursday.
Thomas Christiansen’s men had earned five points from three matches, including one point in a draw against Mexico, but on Thursday they lost to La Selecta, who scored their first goal in this round of competition.
That defeat moved them outside a top-three position in the group with five points, but just one behind Canada.
Team news.
The USA XI has just been confirmed and Shaq Moore from CD Tenerife gets a start in the US rear giard.
The action gets underway in the Central American nation at 6pm ET.
Hello and a warm welcome for our live coverage from the Estadio Olímpico Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez in Panama City as the 'Canaleros' face Greg Berhalter's USMNT.