US Shocks Panama in Stoppage Time

16 Oct, 2013

Panama was about 90 seconds from beating the United States and advancing to a playoff against New Zealand for a World Cup berth.

The fans at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City were ready to start a nationwide celebration.

And then the Americans stunned not just an opponent, but an entire country.

Graham Zusi and Aron Johannsson scored in second-half stoppage time, giving United States a 3-2 win Tuesday night that left Mexico’s hopes alive and knocked out the Panamanians.

The U.S. clinched a World Cup berth last month and didn’t use most of its regular starters. Gabriel Torres put Panama ahead in the 18th minute in a downpour. But Michael Orozco tied the score in the 64th minute, just seven seconds after Costa Rica took a 2-1 lead at home against Mexico.

Luis Tejada scored in the 83rd, putting Panama back into fourth place and the playoff berth. Mexico, which last missed the World Cup in 1990, would have been eliminated.

But Zusi scored 1:24 into three minutes of stoppage time, deflating a crowd anticipating a celebration. Zusi has three international goals, including two in five days, and his first was at Panama in January 2012.

Johannsson, a 22-year-old who made his American debut in August, added his first international goal at the 2:40 mark to seal the U.S. win and Panama’s elimination.

The Americans, who have lost just once in their last 16 games, tied their best of 22 points in the hexagonal, the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.

AP

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