U.S. men's soccer team's Copa América on precipice of disaster after 2-1 loss to Panama

Folarin Balogun swung momentum back to the U.S. in the 22nd minute with a dazzling goal off a give-and-go play with Robinson, delighting the crowd of 59,145 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

But Blackman tied the score four minutes later with a low shot that evaded Turner’s dive. One can wonder if the effects of that collision hindered Turner’s reaction.

The first half remained testy, with nine fouls called on Panama and three on the U.S. by Salvadoran referee Ivan Bartón at intermission. Robinson was booked in the 33rd, and Panama’s Eduardo Guerrero was booked in the 45th.

Balogun came closest of anyone to scoring in the rest of the period, hitting the crossbar in the 48th, though he was offside.

Turner departed at the start of the second half for Ethan Horvath, one of three changes Berhalter made at that point. Turner was diagnosed with a left leg injury.

Centerback Cameron Carter-Vickers replaced attacking midfielder Gio Reyna, and defensive midfielder Johnny Cardoso replaced Tyler Adams in a like-for-like swap.

The moves shifted the U.S. into a 3-5-1, with the hope that outside backs Joe Scally and Robinson could provide just enough spark from wide roles to spring Balogun or Christian Pulisic for a goal.

Two strokes of luck go unused

Disaster nearly struck in the 63rd when Fajardo went over a slide by Carter-Vickers in the 18-yard box and hit the deck. Bartón initially signaled for a penalty kick, but the video review officials told Bartón to take another look. He saw there wasn’t much contact, and reversed the call.

Balogun was subbed off in the 72nd minute for Ricardo Pepi, not long after Balogun whipped a tough-angle shot just wide of the far post from the left side of the 18-yard box.

Pepi had a big chance in the 81st when McKennie served him up a cross from the right side, but he headed it softly and straight at Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.

Two minutes later, Fajardo made the U.S. pay dearly for it. Abidel Ayarza jumped on a loose ball on the right side of the 18-yard box, sent it toward Fajardo, and he thumped it past Horvath.

The Americans got lucky when Panama’s Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla was ejected in the 88th for tackling Pulisic from behind. But the Americans couldn’t find another goal, with McKennie coming closest on a header of a free kick in the 94th.