Panama stun USA on penalties to set up Gold Cup final with Mexico
Panama stunned the United States on Wednesday by winning their Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal 5-4 on penalties in San Diego to set up a final with Mexico.
Mexico, record eight-time Gold Cup champions, reached Sunday's decider with a 3-0 win over Jamaica in Las Vegas.
Mexico will start as favourites against a Panama team that have never won the regional competition for North and Central America and the Caribbean –- but have reached the final twice before, losing to the USA in 2005 and 2013.
The USA, who selected a squad without their main Europe-based players, miss out on a place in the final for only the second time since 2003.
They bowed out on penalties after the game ended 1-1 after extra time.
"Getting into this final is the dream of every Panamanian. We had to suffer to get this victory but that is how it is best savoured," said Panama coach Thomas Christiansen.
The USA started brightly in the late afternoon Californian sunshine, with Cade Cowell hitting the post in the first minute.
Panama had an effort from Edgar Barcenas in the 29th ruled out for offside and American goalkeeper Matt Turner had to be alert in the 53rd minute to keep out a header from Ismael Diaz.
Brandon Vazquez, given a start after three goals in the tournament as a substitute, then missed a good opportunity, firing high from close range after good work from Cowell.
There was drama in stoppage time when Diaz had the ball in the net but was flagged for offside. Panama claimed that Djordje Mihailovic had handled the ball but VAR found nothing and backed the offside call.
The USA had needed extra time and penalties to get past Canada in their quarterfinal, but they were short of creativity against a determined Panama.
Panama grabbed the lead
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