Panama have once again proved to be the nemesis of the United States men’s national team, as substitute Cecilio Waterman struck in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to secure a stunning 1-0 victory at SoFi Stadium on Thursday. The defeat ended the USMNT’s three-match winning streak in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Following last summer’s 2-1 triumph at the Copa América, this marked Panama’s third consecutive competitive victory over the United States, having also eliminated them from the 2023 Gold Cup on penalties. It was Mauricio Pochettino’s first defeat in a competitive fixture since his appointment as head coach on 10 September.

Pochettino’s Frustration with Lack of Risk-Taking

After the match, Pochettino expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance, particularly in a first half where he felt they played too cautiously.

"I’m disappointed because this is not the way we want to build this journey together," he stated. "If we aim to be competitive at the World Cup, we must show greater ambition and intensity."

Panama’s victory was well-earned. They were tactically astute, resolute in defence, and clinical in attack. The United States delivered their most uninspired performance of Pochettino’s tenure, characterised by sterile possession and a lack of penetration. Christian Pulisic’s set-piece deliveries—despite the USMNT winning nine corners—were particularly poor.

Creativity Continues to Be USMNT’s Weakness

The match highlighted the USMNT’s ongoing struggles in creating quality chances, an issue that has plagued them for years despite boasting players at top European clubs and now having an elite manager in charge. Panama executed the blueprint for nullifying the United States, frustrating them with a compact defensive setup.

As recently as November, the US appeared to be making strides under Pochettino, particularly in their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final victory over Jamaica, which they won 5-2 on aggregate. Against Panama, however, they regressed, launching wave after wave of fruitless attacks against a disciplined 5-4-1 defensive block.

Their only real chance of the first half came in the 19th minute when Josh Sargent’s close-range effort was blocked by Panama defender Edgardo Fariña. Otherwise, the Americans were static in their movement and careless in possession, squandering promising attacking situations.

Midfielder Tyler Adams, returning to the national team for the first time since last summer’s Copa América, admitted the performance was lacking.

"We need to be sharper," Adams said. "There are no excuses—this is what top players deal with week in, week out in the Premier League and other major leagues. We need to adapt and improve."

Sargent Struggles as USMNT Lack Cutting Edge

Sargent endured a frustrating evening, starved of service despite a prolific club season with Norwich City, where he has scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 24 matches. He found the net in the 25th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside against Timothy Weah in the build-up.

The striker was eventually substituted in the 68th minute for Patrick Agyemang, who came closest to breaking the deadlock for the United States in the 82nd minute. Agyemang latched onto a through ball from Weston McKennie, only for Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera to produce a superb save.

Despite the team’s struggles in attack, Pochettino opted against introducing creative talents Gio Reyna and Diego Luna, instead bringing on Jack McGlynn—a decision that ultimately backfired.

The late goal conceded also raised questions about goalkeeper Matt Turner’s positioning. Waterman’s low effort found the net with Turner appearing too close to his near post and unable to react in time. Turner’s lack of match sharpness—having played just four matches for Crystal Palace this season—may have contributed to the error.

USMNT Must Show More Fight, Says Pochettino

In his post-match analysis, Pochettino suggested complacency had crept into the squad.

"We are the USA. But you don’t win matches just by wearing the shirt or playing at a big club," he asserted. "You need to fight, win duels, and work hard. Otherwise, it’s not enough."

Adams echoed the sentiment, emphasising the need for greater urgency.

"I don’t know what we lacked tonight—whether it was mentality or competitiveness—but we need to take responsibility. We can’t wait for something to happen; we need to make things happen," he said.

The USMNT will have little time to reflect, as they now face either Canada or Mexico—both co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup—in Sunday’s third-place play-off. Pochettino will be under pressure to find solutions to their attacking woes before then.