Copa America: Panama beat US to keep alive hopes of reaching Group C

A late goal from Jose Fajardo kept alive Panama's long-shot hopes of reaching the Copa America quarterfinals as they defeated the United States 2-1 Thursday night. The hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 18th minute at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when Timothy Weah was shown a straight red card for a violent challenge on Roderick Miller.

Four minutes later, the US went ahead and scored through Folarin Balogun, who slotted in offense with a left-footed shot to the top right following an interaction that involved Antonee Robinson.

A low drive from outside the 18-yard box almost instantly pulled Panama level, with goalkeeper Matt Turner powerless to stop right-back Cesar Blackman. Panama controlled nearly 75 percent of the ball possession. It completed nearly three times as many passes as the United States, who sat back and were content to have their opponents counterattack.

The Central Americans had other ideas, and this was doubled when Fajardo scored from 12 yards after being set up by Abdiel Ayarza. Things then took a final turn when Adalberto Carrasquilla brought down Pulisic two minutes before time, an offense that earned the Houston Dynamo midfielder a straight red card.

But Panama resisted the late pressure to claim their first win of the tournament. Thomas Christiansen's side now sit third in Group C, level on points with Uruguay and United States but third on goal difference.