USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter said Tim Weah’s “silly mistake” of picking a red card in the 18th minute cost the US’ game against Panama. A bunch of soccer analysts echoed Berhalter’s sentiment and observed that things started to go south for the 10-men US team after Weah walked off with a red. The US midfielder saw red after he struck Panama defender Roderick Miller on the back of his head in a non-ball situation. Condemning Weah’s act, former USWNT icon Ali Kreiger said that such a mistake should never have happened in a tournament like the US-hosted Copa America.

Tim Weah’s red card and the USMNT’s subsequent loss took center stage in a recent Futbol Americas episode on ESPN FC. Show host Sebastian Salazar asked Ali Kreiger to analyze the impact of Weah’s red card on the US-Panama tie. “A huge impact because then you have to change the type of personnel possibly out on the field and the formation especially,” said Kreiger in response. She added, “I think it was really stupid, and at this level that can’t happen especially in a tournament like this where the US could have won.”

Thereafter, the former Gotham FC star pointed out that a win could have ensured that the US comfortably traveled into the knockout phase. Now, the US team awaits super-strong rivals Uruguay before they ensure a knockout berth. And hence, Kreiger is concerned about how Berhalter’s men would prepare for that storm. “Now they have to go back to the drawing board and figure out what could happen next,” Kreiger added.

Elsewhere in the US locker room, Tim Weah apologized to the entire squad after his act reduced the team to 10 men in the losing game against Panama.

Tim Weah apologizes while the US has to deal with pre-knockout exit worries

In a post-game interview, Gregg Berhalter remarked that Tim Weah “played into” the referee’s tendencies to penalize the US players. Thereafter, Berhalter added that he hopes Weah has realized how he has made things hard for his teammates. “Tim got bumped, he got checked and he reacted. He apologized to the group and I think he understands what a difficult position he put the group in,” said Gregg Berhalter.

Continuing the conversation on the ESPN FC episode, show host and former USMNT star Hercules Gomez said Tim Weah’s mistake was “unforgivable”. Gomez also added that there is a chance for the US team to get grouped and not see the knockouts solely because of this loss against Panama. While the US has one more match to set things straight, that game is never going to be a walk in the park. They face Uruguay- one of the strongest and historically favorite sides in their final group game.

Unlike the US, Uruguay has spectacularly won their two group games and cruised into the knockouts. Notably, while the US ended their Panama tie in a forgetful fashion, Uruguay uprooted Bolivia with a 5-0 scoreline. Hence, it won’t be a surprise if Uruguay would see off the hosts before they lace up for the knockouts.