The United States of America (USA) have surprisingly suffered a first loss in the qualifiers for next year’s FIFA World Cup tournament via the CONCACAF region after they were beaten by hosts Panama. The reigning Gold Cup champions were beaten 1-0 by the home side thanks to the second half strike from Anibal Godoy. Godoy scored the lone goal of the game minutes after the half-time interval thus inflicting the first defeat of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on the United States of America (USA).
USA had earlier gone to the top of the CONCACAF standings at the end of the fourth round of games. The Americans leapfrogged rivals Mexico at the summit thanks to the second half brace from Ricardo Pepi in the 2-0 home win over Jamaica. Pepi was able to take his tally to three goals in the third round stage of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers with his two goals against the Jamaicans thus making him the leading goalscorer amongst the players involved at the current stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the CONCACAF region.
USA was able to take spot from Mexico at the end of the fourth set of games last week Thursday after the Mexicans were forced to a 1-1 home draw by Canada. At the end of the fifth set of games in the third round of the World Cup qualifiers in the CONCACAF section on Sunday, Mexico were able to reclaim top spot thanks to the abovementioned defeat suffered by the USA coupled with the big win over Honduras at home.
Mexico took spot courtesy the 3-0 win over visitors Honduras through the goals from Sebastian Cordova, Rogelio Funes Mori and Hirving Lozano. The victory gave Mexico a three-point lead over the United States at the summit.
United States can bounce back from the defeat to Panama when they take on Costa Rica at home in one of the sixth set of games scheduled to take place on Wednesday as far as the CONCACAF third round stage is concerned.
