PANAMA CITY (AP) – With Panama about 90 seconds from reaching a playoff against New Zealand for a World Cup berth, Graham Zusi and Aron Johannsson scored in second-half stoppage time four years ago to give the already qualified United States a 3-2 win and eliminate the hosts.
“You felt this place dip,” Jozy Altidore recalled Monday. “You heard people crying.”
The U.S. will be back Tuesday night in a match that matters for both teams. The Americans routed Honduras 6-0 Friday at home and are looking for a second straight win in World Cup qualifying under coach Bruce Arena, who replaced Jurgen Klinsmann after an 0-2 start in the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.
Before a light workout at Estadio Rommel Fernández, American players thought the Panamanians might still have that 2013 match on their minds. The late U.S. goals kept Mexico alive, and El Tri went on to win the playoff and reach the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Panama has never advanced to the World Cup.
“If we were smart enough, we wouldn’t have broken their hearts. Pretty stupid, if you ask me,” Arena said humorously. “You think Mexico would have scored a goal at the end of that game?”