The U.S. Men’s National Team crashed out of the CONCACAF Nations League title race after a last-gasp 1-0 defeat to Panama, and former U.S. goalkeeper Tony Meola believes Matt Turner could have done better on the decisive goal.
In the 94th minute, Cecilio Waterman fired a perfect diagonal strike into the far corner after receiving a pass from Adalberto Carrasquilla, stunning the three-time defending champions.
Speaking on CBS, Meola questioned Turner’s positioning:
“That ball can’t end up in the back of the net… Turner was a bit tucked in at goal, his feet were planted, and he didn’t have that explosion needed in such a crucial moment.”
Meola also raised concerns about Turner’s lack of club playing time at Crystal Palace, arguing that the lack of regular minutes affects a goalkeeper’s sharpness.
“The toughest thing for a goalkeeper is when you have nothing to do and then, suddenly, you have to make a game-changing save. Without regular club minutes, you lose that rhythm.”
USMNT Struggles & Third-Place Playoff Looms
This was the latest game-winning goal conceded by the USMNT since their 2014 World Cup draw against Portugal. Now, all eyes turn to Mauricio Pochettino, who must reshuffle his squad for Sunday’s third-place match against Canada.
“I am not blaming Matt Turner, but those are moments where you have to find a way.” 🧤@TMeola1 reacts to the Panama winner that slipped past the USMNT goalkeeper 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/5l7jRDlV8z
— Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 21, 2025
Can the USMNT bounce back, or will they suffer another setback?
