In the first semi-final of the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League, the reigning three-time champions, the USA, host Panama on Thursday at SoFi Stadium in California.
The Yanks eliminated Jamaica in the quarter-finals 5-2 on aggregate, while Los Canaleros managed to squeak past Costa Rica by a cumulative score of 3-2.
Match preview
As many would have expected at the start of this season's Nations League, the mighty Americans are back in the semis with a chance to retain their title once again.
They are the only team that have ever lifted this trophy, and they have not been eliminated at this stage of a CONCACAF tournament since the Panamanians beat them on penalties in the 2023 Gold Cup.
Since being shut out 2-0 in a friendly versus Mexico last October, Mauricio Pochettino has seen his players react well, winning their last four international encounters by a combined margin of 10-3.
In their three previous Nations League semi-finals combined, the US have conceded just a single goal, levelling their match with Jamaica at this stage a year ago in the 96th minute, before eventually winning 3-1 after extra time.
The Americans have won their previous four home matches across all competitions and have gone unbeaten in five consecutive games played on US soil.
In their entire Nations League history, this team have never lost a home match, with their last defeat in this competition occurring away to Trinidad and Tobago in November 2023 (2-1) advancing from that quarter-final tie 4-2 on aggregate.
Thursday will only be the second time they face a side from Central America at this tournament, with the Yanks defeating Honduras 1-0 in the semi-finals of the first Nations League in 2021.
It was a difficult quarter-final tie for Panama, but they did enough to get by, with their 1-0 leg-one victory in Costa Rica ultimately making the difference.
This will be the third time Thomas Christiansen's side have reached the semi-finals of this tournament, and they lost their previous two appearances at this stage.
La Marea Roja have never scored a goal beyond the quarter-finals of a Nations League game, following up a 3-0 semi-final defeat to Mexico last year with a 1-0 loss in the third-place playoff against Jamaica.
Panama come into this match in poor form, winning just one of their previous seven competitive fixtures, losing their only two games this year by a combined margin of 8-2.
The Panamanians have lost their last two matches played against North American opposition, scoring just one goal during that run.
Going back to March 2023, the Panamanians are unbeaten in their last nine international affairs when scoring the opening goal, winning in eight of those instances.
Los Canaleros have emerged victorious in two of their previous three meetings with the US, coming from behind to beat them 2-1 in the group phase of the 2024 Copa America.
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Team News
For this encounter, the Americans could be missing Real Betis star Johnny Cardoso who sustained a muscle strain, and Ricardo Pepi is still recovering from a knee injury and will not be available.
Folarin Balogun was not selected to the team having recently recovered from a shoulder injury, while Sergino Dest was omitted from the squad, only just returning for his club side PSV Eindhoven this month after an 11-month absence with a torn ACL.
Crystal Palace reserve goalkeeper Matt Turner can make his 50th appearance with the US on Thursday, while Josh Sargent is seeking his first international cap since October, scoring eight goals in his last eight matches at Norwich City.
Pepi had a goal in each of their quarter-final fixtures, with their other strikes in leg two coming courtesy of Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, along with an own goal by Di'Shon Bernard.
On the Panama side Michael Murillo is out with a hamstring strain, Edgar Barcenas is unavailable due to an ACL injury, Andres Andrade will be sidelined for this encounter having just recovered from an ACL tear and Fidel Escobar will have to sit out with a red card suspension.
Abdiel Ayarza was omitted from the squad as he recently underwent surgery to fix an abdominal issue and Eric Davis is out because of a knee injury.
The lone Panamanian seeking his first international appearance on Thursday will be Edward Cedeno, while Cristian Martinez can collect his 50th cap with Los Canaleros.
Goals from Cesar Blackman and Jose Luis Rodriguez were enough to earn them a draw in leg two of their tie with Costa Rica, while Jose Fajardo can surpass Roberto Brown for ninth in all-time goals with his next strike.
USA possible starting lineup:
Turner; Scally, Richards, Ream, A. Robinson; McKennie, Tessmann; Musah, Pulisic, Weah; Sargent
Panama possible starting lineup:
Mosquera; Blackman, Farina, Cordoba, Gutierrez; Godoy, Martinez, Carrasquilla; Rodriguez, Fajardo, Waterman
We say: USA 3-2 Panama
The Panamanians have rarely made it easy on the Americans lately, but we believe their injuries will make them much more vulnerable on the back end, and the Yanks have plenty of firepower that could make them pay.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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