Gold Cup: USA knocked out by underdogs Panama despite Jesus Ferreira’s extra-time equalizer

The reigning Gold Cup champion USA has been dumped out of this year’s tournament after suffering penalty shootout heartbreak at the hands of Panama – despite a stunning extra-time equalizer from Jesus Ferreira.

Adalberto Carrasquilla converted the decisive penalty kick after Cristian Roldan failed to convert his attempt, and Panama beat the 5-4 in the shootout after a 1-1 tie on Wednesday night.

Panama will face either Mexico or Jamaica in Sunday’s final – the country’s first appearance in the showpiece since 2013.

Iván Anderson scored his first international goal in the ninth minute of extra time, and Jesús Ferreira tied the score for the U.S. six minutes later.

After beating Canada on penalty kicks in Sunday’s quarterfinal, the U.S. went to a second shootout for the first time in a Gold Cup.

Brandon Vazquez reacts after the Star & Stripes missed their first Gold Cup final since 2003

Matt Turner’s heroics weren’t enough for the US to progress for the second time via penalties

Panama reached the final for the third time after losing to the U.S. in 2005 and 2013. Mexico played Jamaica at Las Vegas later Wednesday.

The U.S., a seven-time winner of the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, failed to reach the final for the first time since losing to Jamaica in a 2015 semifinal.

The game marked the finale of B.J. Callaghan, who led the U.S. to five wins, one loss and one draw as the Americans’ second interim coach this year. Gregg Berhalter returns for the September 9 exhibition against Uzbekistan.

American Cade Cowell hit a post about 20 seconds in and that was the closest to a goal until Panama went ahead nine minutes into extra time. 

Carrasquilla played a through pass to Anderson, who was kept onside by DeAndre Yedlin. Anderson took a touch and played the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Matt Turner, then kicked the ball into the open net for his first international goal.

USA’s players line up during the penalty shootout against Panama in San Diego on Wednesday

BJ Callahan will now stand aside as manager to make way for Gregg Berhalter’s return

The Panama players celebrate their victory – and they’ll now play in the final on Sunday

Ferreira scored six minutes later after Matt Miazga played a long pass to Jordan Morris, who headed the ball into the penalty area. Ferreira volleyed the ball with his right shin from 16 yards past the outstretched left hand of a diving Orlando Mosquera for his 15th international goal, his seventh of the tournament

With the U.S. going first in the shootout, Ferreira was stopped by Mosquera.

Fidel Escobar and Ismael Díaz beat Turner, while Djordje Mihailovic and Morris were successful for the U.S. Turner dove to his left to stop Christian Martínez and Julian Gressel and Miazga converted around Édgar Bárcenas successful kick for Panama, leaving the U.S. ahead 4-3.

Cecilio Waterman tied the score with Panama’s fifth shot, Mosquera dove right to parry Roldan´s attempt and Carrasquilla put his shot inside Turner’s right post.