World Cup 2022: Points are Priceless for USA and Panama

USA vs Panama

The USA and Panama meet at the Orlando City Stadium on Monday in pursuit of valuable points in the penultimate round of the CONCACAF qualifiers.  

Both teams have high hopes of making the World Cup 2022 though the Stars and Stripes are almost there, while Panama will need a play-off and results elsewhere to go their way.

Gregg Berhalter’s USA would have hoped to have been there by now. But there is still work to do with his team in second – three points clear of fourth placed Costa Rica and three behind leaders Canada – while Panama sit fifth in the CONCACAF table, a point behind Costa Rica who occupy the only available play-off spot.  

The SBOTOP stats team reckon this will be a home win – a result which will see USA qualify for Qatar and leave Panama wondering what might have been. But it will be a nervy Orlando crowd if Los Canaleros can stay in the game past the hour mark.

Talking Points

USA almost there

The United States had a chance to book their place in Qatar with an away game against Mexico, but they slugged it out for a goalless draw. It was a result which, in the cold light of day, is not so bad after all.

The Stars and Stripes had chances to win the game but a point means they have inched ever closer and they will be happy to leave Mexico with something, having failed to win in the last nine qualifiers played at Azteca. And now all Berhalter’s men need to do is to better Costa Rica’s result when they face El Salvador. 

But that may be easier said than done as Los Ticos have just delayed Canada’s celebrations by beating Les Rouges 1-0 on Friday. The table toppers went to San Jose unbeaten and on the brink of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1986, but when they went down to 10 men Costa Rica took advantage and Celso Borges scored a late winner.

Canada had their chance away to Costa Rica and blew it and that will be the focus on the Americans’ minds as they will not want to risk a winner-take-all clash with Los Ticos on the final day. USA’s big players can get the job done against Panama so their fans can relax.

Manchester City keeper Zack Steffen, Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund attacker Gio Reyna, and RB Leipzig’s Tyler Adams all have big game experience. And if they keep their heads, will surely have too much for their visitors. 

Panama must match the best

Los Canaleros’ WorldCup 2022 resultshave been inconsistent in outcome but consistent in adding points regularly, with two wins, two defeats, and a draw from the last five games.

Narrow losses to Costa Rica and Mexico were punctuated by a thrilling win over Jamaica, but they had a disappointing result at home to Honduras leading up to this game.

Panama were in control when Rolando Blackburn scored in the first half. But an equaliser from Kevin Lopez denied them a crucial two points, allowing Costa Rica to sneak into that fourth place.

Now Panama face USA and then they host Canada in their final match, so they must take points from one or both of the top two sides and will hope Les Rouges have already packed for the beach when they meet them.

Head coach Thomas Christiansen had a stint in charge of Leeds United in 2017 and 2018, but he was dismissed midway through the campaign with the club 10^th place in the Championship.

At Panama, he has a more limited pool of players than his opposite number and will rely on the tried and tested up front.

Seasoned striker Blackburn at 32 years of age could line up alongside Gabriel Torres, one year his senior and in search of his 100^th international cap. The Deportes Antofagasta man is his nation’s third top scorer of all-time and the 10^th-most capped player.

But at the other end of the field, Bundesliga club Bielefeld’s highly-rated young defender Andres Andrada could make a start.

Everything needs to go in Los Canaleros’ way. But of course, the USA can do Panama a favour as they play their last game away to Costa Rica on March 30^th.

History

The Stars and Stripes are seven-time CONCACAF Gold Cup winners, picking up the 2021 title with a 1-0 win over Mexico as Atalanta United defender Miles Robinson scored a dramatic extra-time header. And they are 10-time qualifiers at the World Cup.

Panama are twice Gold Cup silver medallists in 2005 and 2013 and they made their first appearance at a World Cup finals in 2018. They have had a taste and would love to return to play among the world’s elite again this year.    

The two nations have met 24 times and the USA have totally dominated their opponents, winning 16, drawing six, and losing just twice.

Betting Tip

The pre-match World Cup 2022 betting oddsfor this game are right behind the Stars and Stripes with a price of 1.40 on a home win, while the draw is at 3.98 and Panama are 6.76.

Both teams are in desperate need of points and I expect Los Canaleros to put up some stiff resistance in the face of a US avalanche.

 

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