The USMNT has suffered a significant setback as Tim Weah's red card against Panama has left them short-handed for their upcoming match against Uruguay.
ATLANTA — The United States men's national team (USMNT) faces an uphill battle in their quest to advance to the knockout stage of Copa América after losing a crucial match to Panama, which was compounded by the red card dismissal of star forward Tim Weah.
Weah's ejection in the 18th minute, upgraded from a yellow card to a red upon VAR review, proved to be a pivotal moment in the game. The USMNT, already challenged by Panama's physicality, found themselves playing with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Weah's Red Card Leaves USMNT Shorthanded for Crucial Copa América Clash
The consequences were dire as Panama capitalized on their numerical advantage, delivering a shocking 2-1 defeat to the Americans. The result has left the USMNT in a precarious position, needing a positive outcome against Uruguay to progress to the next round.
Replacing Weah against Uruguay will be no easy task. The 22-year-old has been a regular starter at right wing for Gregg Berhalter since the 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle and brings a dynamic combination of speed, skill, and explosiveness to the team.
Despite the setback, the USMNT remains determined to overcome adversity. "It's a big loss," said defender Tim Ream. "But we've always had that next man up mentality."
Gio Reyna, who has previous experience playing right wing for the USMNT, is a potential candidate to fill Weah's void. Other options include Haji Wright and Brenden Aaronson.
The USMNT's lineup concerns do not end with Weah. Goalkeeper Matt Turner suffered a knee injury in a collision with Panama's Cesar Blackman and had to be replaced by backup Ethan Horvath. If Turner is unable to play against Uruguay, Horvath will step in and bring his experience and proven ability to make big saves.
Horvath's performance against Panama, where he made several critical stops, has instilled confidence in the team. "He's come in and done amazing things for us in the past," said captain Christian Pulisic. "Next man up. He's ready."
The USMNT must now regroup and prepare for a daunting encounter with Uruguay, who have dominated their group stage matches so far. The team's resilience and determination will be tested as they strive to secure a result that keeps their Copa América dreams alive.
