In a thrilling semifinal clash at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California, Panama delivered a stunning blow to the United States of America’s soccer aspirations. On March 20, 2025, the USA's bid for a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title ended with a dramatic 1-0 defeat, courtesy of a stoppage-time goal from Cecilio Waterman. The match marked a significant moment as Panama advanced to the Nations League final, leaving the USA to reflect on what could have been.
The USA began the match tentatively on Thursday, yet found moments to threaten Panama. The first half saw U.S. forward Josh Sargent narrowly miss an opportunity to open the scoring in the 19th minute. Sargent maneuvered into a promising position in front of the Panama goal and unleashed a shot that deflected off a defender, hit the post, and was subsequently cleared. This attempt underlined a brief period where the USA seemed poised to break through Panama's defense.
Despite their efforts, the USA's chances were stifled by an offside call in the first half, extinguishing another potential breakthrough past the midway mark. Throughout the match, the United States managed to create several opportunities, but ultimately failed to capitalize on them. The game’s pivotal moment came during stoppage time when Cecilio Waterman seized his chance to score, securing Panama's place in the final and ending the USA’s reign as champions.
The match's outcome signifies a turning point in the CONCACAF Nations League, a tournament that launched in 2019 modeled after its UEFA counterpart. Prior to this defeat, the United States remained undefeated in the competition, having won the title in 2021, 2023, and 2024. As the only team to have lifted the trophy since its inception, the USA’s dominance in the tournament underscores their historical prowess in regional soccer.
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