Pulisic hat trick powers U.S. past Panama

ORLANDO, Florida – Christian Pulisic scored a hat trick to power the United States to a commanding 5-1 win over Panama on matchday 13 of the Third Round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 on Sunday night at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

It was an intense start between the two teams and the first big chance went the way for the U.S. when after a VAR review, the referee ruled there was a Panamanian foul in the area, resulting in a penalty kick for the U.S. Christian Pulisic stepped up to take the spot kick and coolly converted, handing the U.S. a 1-0
lead in the 17’.

Panama nearly struck right back in the 20’ with Rolando Blackburn looking set to equalize via a header after a U.S. giveaway, but U.S. GK Zack Steffen got a hand on it to keep it out and
eventually the ball was cleared.

Back it went for the U.S. and the home side doubled their lead to 2-0 in the 23’, with Antonee Robinson serving up a cross for Paul Arriola, who spun a header into net.

The pace favored the U.S. and Jesus Ferreira made it a 3-0 affair in the 27’ with a composed finish in front of net off a pass from Arriola.

Panama weren’t about to throw in the towel, though, and two minutes later Steffen had to react
quickly to deny Edgar Barcenas from pulling a goal back.

The U.S. would notch a fourth goal right before the halftime whistle, as Pulisic scored again from the spot after a penalty was whistled in the Panama area, giving the U.S. a 4-0 lead.

Panama came out with all the energy to start the second half and had the U.S. pegged back, but soon the U.S. began to take advantage of the spaces left by Panama and Pulisic completed his hat trick with a spin and finish for a 5-0 advantage in the 65’.

Panama would not finish the match empty-handed, though, as a well-timed header from Anibal
Godoy cut the gap to 5-1 in the 86’, but in the end, the three points belonged to the U.S., who will look to nail down a World Cup berth on Wednesday in Costa Rica.