The Copa America clash between the USMNT and Panama saw fireworks from both sides. Unfortunately, we aren’t talking about the cracking contest, as both teams saw players getting sent off in what was a fiery fixture. Match referee Ivan Barton did not make things easy for the players as he dished out 4 yellow and 2 straight red cards, influencing the flow of the game. USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter was fuming with the referee’s decision at the end of the contest, with the manager claiming he wasn’t surprised by the red cards considering his match records.

The USMNT head coach addressed the media following the defeat at the hands of Panama. Gregg Berhalter stated, “We talked beforehand about the tendencies of this referee. We knew what he’s capable of and to be honest, I think we played right into his hands. And we made his decision pretty easy. Tim got bumped, and he reacted. He apologized to the team. I think he understands what a difficult position he put the group in. Nonetheless, it happened and as a result, we lost this game. But we have to move on and figure out how to win the next game.”

Ivan Barton does not have a great record when it comes to refereeing USMNT’s matches. Barton has handed out seven red cards in his last four games officiating the team. The referee has been under criticism for his recent officiating with Barton even questioned for his dodgy decisions during the controversial Honduras vs Mexico game. Regardless of the decision, the USMNT will now have to tighten their resolve as they face Uruguay in their final group fixture.

Rocky road ahead for the USMNT

It is pretty surprising to even comment on the team’s qualification after fans were considering Team USA favorite to make it out of the group stages. However, the defeat to Panama has thrown a wrench in Gregg Berhalter’s plans as the manager will now have to dig deep and inspire his men to chart an upset over Uruguay. However, even that won’t be enough if Panama manages to pick a win over Bolivia with a 2-goal margin.

Both USA and Panama now have 3 points from their 2 games. While the hosts do have a 2 goal advantage on goal difference, things would be bleak for the side if they cannot get past Uruguay. Tim Weah will also miss the clash after being picking up a two-game suspension. It will be interesting to see if the hosts can pull off the much needed upset over Uruguay and make in to the knockout stages of the tournament.