2020 International Friendly
United States vs. Panama
Stadion Wiener Neustadt – Wiener Neustadt
November 16 – 2:45 PM ET
TV: FS1, UniMás, TUDN
STREAMING: FOX Sports App
After a draw against Wales in their first month in more than nine months, the US men's national team cap the FIFA November window against a familiar foe in unfamiliar surroundings with an international friendly against Panama slated for Stadion Wiener Neustadt in Wiener Neustadt, Austria Monday.
The young, European-based USMNT impressed in a 0-0 draw against Wales in Swansea Thursday with six players making their senior-team debuts on a roster where the average age was just over 22. The lack of chemistry between players still learning each other's games was evident, especially in the attack, though Gregg Berhalter lauded the midfield trio of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and 17-year-old Yunus Musah as perhaps the biggest takeaway on the positive end.
Now the focus turns to Panama in a match played in Austria. How much will Berhalter rotate his squad? Will he opt for much of the same group to continue to build chemistry? it's something Berhalter is wrestling with, although he did tab former FC Dallas fullback Reggie Cannon as one of his starters.
"He’s in a grind and he's competing every single game and that's been fun to see the transformation. Not that he wasn't at Dallas, but the pressure is a little bit different," Berhalter said of Cannon in a conference call with reporters Sunday. "You can see how he's experiencing that, but he's embracing it. We’re really looking forward to seeing him play. He’s going to start the game tomorrow so it'll be nice to see him play."
As for Panama, Nashville SC midfielder Anibal Godoy is the only MLS player on Thomas Christiansen's 24-man roster. This is the former Leeds United boss' fourth match in charge of Los Canaleros after a pair of 1-0 wins over Costa Rica in San Jose during the October FIFA window. Panama, which also feature former New York Red Bulls right back Michael Amir Murillo and center back Fidel Escobar, as well as Omar Browne, who had a short loan stint with the Montreal Impact a year ago, lost to Japan in Graz, Austria Friday. Takumi Minamino scored the lone goal from the penalty spot just after the hour mark and Panama were reduced to 10 men on a straight red card by Luis Mejía in the 78th minute.
"We're focused on competing to win the game, as I said before, and we want to score goals so we'll see what happens tomorrow, but it's going to be very similar concept of moving from mid block to high press and trying to create some chances to score goals," Berhalter said.
The USMNT have won 16 of the 22 all-time meetings with Panama, including a 1-0 victory at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup in the last encounter. Jozy Altidore scored the lone goal as the USMNT clinched their group in a match played at Children's Mercy Park on June 26, 2019.
United States
Series Matchup vs. Panama
- United States: 16 wins, 41 goals
- Panama: 2 wins, 12 goals
- 4 draws
Officials
- Referee: Harald Lechner (Austria)
- Assistant Referees: Andreas Heidenreich (Austria), Maximilian Kolbithsc (Austria)
- 4th Official: Julian Weinberger (Austria)
