USMNT Falls to Panama, Needing Victory Against Uruguay to Advance

The United States men's national soccer team suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Panama in the Copa América group stage, despite taking the lead early on. With the loss, the USMNT now faces an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stage and will need a victory against tournament powerhouse Uruguay in their final group match.

The United States men's national soccer team's (USMNT) quest to transform the image of U.S. soccer hit a setback on Thursday with a 2-1 loss to Panama in a Copa América group stage match.

Tim Weah's early red card for shoving a Panamanian player in the back of the head left the USMNT shorthanded and allowed Panama to take advantage of the man advantage.

USMNT Falls to Panama, Needing Victory Against Uruguay to Advance

Despite Folarin Balogun giving the USMNT an early lead, Panama equalized just four minutes later through Cesar Blackman and eventually took the lead in the 83rd minute with a goal from José Fajardo.

The loss leaves the USMNT needing a victory against 15-time Copa América champions Uruguay in their final group match on Monday to have any chance of advancing to the knockout stage.

USMNT Falls to Panama, Needing Victory Against Uruguay to Advance

The match against Panama was a chippy affair, with Weah's red card setting the tone. Panama's Adalberto Carrasquilla was also sent off for a foul on Christian Pulisic, leaving both teams with 10 players.

The USMNT switched to a five-man backfield with three midfielders and one forward in an attempt to neutralize Panama's attacking threat, but the Panamanians eventually found a way through the American defense.

USMNT Falls to Panama, Needing Victory Against Uruguay to Advance

Ethan Horvath replaced Matt Turner in goal for the USMNT after Turner suffered a leg injury in a collision during the first half.

Despite the setbacks, the USMNT showed plenty of fight and determination throughout the match. Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Gio Reyna all put in strong performances, and the team created several chances to equalize in the second half.

However, the USMNT was unable to find the back of the net again and will now need to regroup and prepare for a must-win match against Uruguay.

The Copa América is a major international soccer tournament that is held every four years. The tournament is contested by the 10 South American national teams and two invited teams from other confederations, in this case, the USMNT and Mexico.

The USMNT is aiming to win its first Copa América title, but the team has never advanced past the semifinals. The Americans have finished third on three occasions, in 1995, 1999, and 2007.

Uruguay is a powerhouse in international soccer and has won the Copa América a record 15 times. The Uruguayans are currently ranked 14th in the FIFA World Rankings, while the USMNT is ranked 15th.

The match between the USMNT and Uruguay will be played on Monday, June 27, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The match will be televised on FS1 and Univision.