INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Panama officially has the number of U.S. men’s national team, as Canalero substitute Cecilio Waterman scored in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to give Panama a stunning 1-0 win Thursday at SoFi Stadium, thus ending the USMNT’s run of three consecutive wins in the Concacaf Nations League.
Combined with last summer’s 2-1 triumph in the Copa America, it marked the third straight time Panama had beaten the U.S. in tournament play — following the 2023 Gold Cup semifinal win on penalties, and the 2024 Copa America group stage — and it was Mauricio Pochettino’s first taste of defeat in a competitive fixture since being confirmed as coach on Sept. 10.
In many respects, Panama was deserving of its win. Panama was tactically smart, stout in defense, and opportunistic in attack. It wasn’t only the most unimaginative performance of Pochettino’s early tenure, it was also the worst, with sterile passing throughout. Christian Pulisic‘s deliveries from set pieces — the U.S. had nine corners — was also poor.
Above all, the match also underscored how the creation of quality chances remains the USMNT’s primary weakness. This has been the case for years, of course, even with a generational talent such as Pulisic in the U.S. ranks, other players at top clubs, and a top coach (Pochettino) at the helm. But the aforementioned approach used by Panama remains the blueprint for beating the USMNT.
Granted, it was just in November that the U.S. looked to be making strides with regard to its attack. The Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal triumph over Jamaica looked as if the Pochettino era had officially achieved lift off. The U.S. looked dynamic and took its chances well over two legs in a 5-2 aggregate win.
Against Panama, the U.S. reverted to form, at least in terms of its offense. The U.S. sent wave after wave of attacks against the Panama defense, most crashing harmlessly against a well-organized 5-4-1 formation. Only Josh Sargent‘s close-range effort in the 19th minute, blocked by Panama defender Edgardo Fariña, saw the U.S. come close.
The U.S. needed an infusion of creativity from Pochettino’s bench; both both Gio Reyna and Diego Luna were left sitting on the bench as the former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach opted for Jack McGlynn instead. It ultimately didn’t work, and the U.S. was made to pay thanks to Waterman’s late strike.
Questions can be asked too of goalkeeper Matt Turner‘s positioning on the game-winning goal, being too close to the near post and seemingly unable to spring across and meet the pace on Waterman’s low effort. His status seems certain in this time, but a lack of consistent playing time — Turner’s made just four appearances for Crystal Palace in 2024-25, totaling 360 minutes across the FA Cup and Carabao Cup — contributes to not being able to meet the moment.
So where do the U.S. go from here? Up next, they’ll face either Canada or Mexico — their fellow World Cup co-hosts — in Sunday’s third-place game, and Pochettino will again be searching for ways to revive a dismal attack.
