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Panama

Colombia absolutely too good on what has been an excellent team showing that ended Panama’s good run up until the Quarter-Finals with a 5-0 win just now as they will either take on Uruguay or Brazil for the 2nd Copa America semi-final match on 10am Thursday morning at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. So that leaves Canada now as the only North American team in the running alongside three other South American sides including their semi opponents Argentina which is going to be incredibly difficult since they’re the current champs. However, they have the team spirit to hopefully give them a tough time having made excellent progress over the last few years – even with Jesse Marsch in charge now who is doing well.

All good things has to end at some point unfortunately when Panama had a great group stage campaign such as wins against the USA and Bolivia off the back of a deep CONCACAF Gold Cup run to the Final last year (Finished 2nd to Mexico with a 1-0 loss) despite losing to Uruguay in the opening match. This is a team Panama should be proud of as there’s unfinished business ahead that would make them stronger as one of the North American teams out there alongside Canada, Mexico and the USA like qualifying for the 2nd time since 2018 to compete in the next World Cup in two years time across North America as well as another excellent next Gold Cup and Copa America showing if possible would be their next two targets. For now, it’s been a disappointing end when they so vulnerable defensively for the most part. Although they did had some ball on occasions with a bit more progress later on where 1- 2 goals could’ve been theirs, but then the match was already over way before full-time.

Meanwhile, Colombians including the some of its huge supporters groups all over the US have been partying all match to see them advance into the semi-finals yet again & this time it won’t be a semis rematch after all unless they make it into the Final with Argentina in it. They were simply destructive mainly in attack with so much possession to put themselves ahead of the game including an excellent 3-0 first-half performance. Yes, things might have slowed things down a bit as the game goes on but they were still way comfortable up front despite some improved Panama ball before a few changes off the bench helped Colombia finished off the match on a high including their 5th and final goal off a successful quick penalty kick past the keeper & into the net. Whatever that is, Colombia needs their full strong support worldwide in the hope of advancing to their 3rd Copa America Final and the last time they’ve done it was back in 2001 with the one and only triumph v Mexico 1-0 at home.

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USA’s chances of going into the Quarter-Finals of the 2024 Copa America are beginning to crumble now in Group C ahead of their next match v Uruguay (Tuesday morning at 10am AEST) after their 2-1 loss to Panama. That first attempted free-kick goal was unlucky when it went offside, although they did find the net first thanks to centre-forward Florian Balogin which was so far, so good.  However, Panama controlled the pitch for the majority where they went into half-time at 1-1 before they eventually found the winner in the 83rd minute off the back of a huge arm wrestle past the US defense towards the final attacking third. Now all Panama has to do is beat Bolivia this Sunday (also Tuesday morning 11am AEST here) if USA can’t win v Uruguay and they will be through in 2nd expecting to go up against either Colombia or Brazil from the top ranked Group D.

Unlucky from the US as a draw would at least be acceptable if it wasn’t for the VAR rejection for that early offside free-kick or another win would be nice, but shame they just couldn’t find a way to stop Panama from conceding into the net. The defense looked so poor including the keeper who should’ve saved the first Panama goal while they just couldn’t get more ball with limited opportunities to get the job done on target at the other end. Meanwhile, wonderful moment from Panama to take home with the win other than that nasty late tackle where one of them was given a straight red card. While that might be a huge blow ahead of their next game v Bolivia, they have won a few times against them before including their last meeting via a friendly match 2-1 in August last year. All in all, they showed excellent fight while dominating the opposition US territory for most of the match. They know where to find the net up close inside the box not once but twice and Panama were right on the money in order off the back of two clean powerful strikes before they closed out for the win. We all know how close they are last year in the CONCACAF Gold Cup through to the Final v Mexico 0-1, as long as USA lose to Uruguay, Panama is ready to go all the way by proving they are not afraid of going up against the best of South Americas after being the best of the North.

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