Cecilio Waterman scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to secure a 1-0 victory for Panama over the United States in the Concacaf Nations League semifinal on March 20. The match, held at SoFi Stadium, saw Waterman convert a low shot in the fourth minute of stoppage time, knocking the defending champions out of the tournament. This shocking result came during Mauricio Pochettino’s first competitive match as coach of the US.
After scoring the match-winning goal in the 94th minute, Cecilio Waterman shared a memorable celebration with his idol, Thierry Henry. As the final whistle blew, Waterman sprinted toward Henry, who was seated pitchside working as an analyst for CBS. Leaping over the fence, Waterman ran straight to Henry and embraced him passionately, all while being surrounded by his teammates in celebration.
“You’re my idol! You’re my idol!” Waterman exclaimed in Spanish, overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment. Later, Waterman shared the story on the post-match show, revealing how he grew up idolizing Henry, making the celebration even more special for the Panama striker.
Despite dominating possession, the US struggled to break down Panama’s defense. Josh Sargent and Weston McKennie came close, but Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera made crucial saves. US coach Pochettino expressed disappointment with his team’s performance, criticizing their lack of aggression and focus, especially in the first half.
Panama will now face either Mexico or Canada in the final on March 23. This defeat marked the US’ third consecutive failure to defeat Panama in competitive matches. Pochettino is left reflecting on what went wrong and how to improve before future challenges.
