Crucial Panama World Cup qualifying goal doesn't actually cross line

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

OK, so the United States were abysmal on the final match day of World Cup qualifying.

They should shoulder all the blame for a disastrous performance against Trinidad and Tobago – but things really didn't go their way as Panama qualified for the World Cup ahead of the U.S.

All-time CONCACAF villain Blas Perez scored Panama's first goal in their historic 2-1 victory over Costa Rica. It's just that... well, he never actually put the ball over the line. Nobody did.

Four years ago, Graham Zusi's famous goal in stoppage time against Panama eliminated Los Canaleros from the World Cup and extended a lifeline to Mexico, who won an intercontinenal playoff to qualify for the final tournament in Brazil. 

Mexico lost to Honduras, 3-2 on the final matchday. That, combined with Panama's victory, bumped the U.S. out of the World Cup picture entirely. 

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Joe Brewin

Joe was the Deputy Editor at FourFourTwo until 2022, having risen through the FFT academy and been on the brand since 2013 in various capacities. 

By weekend and frustrating midweek night he is a Leicester City fan, and in 2020 co-wrote the autobiography of former Foxes winger Matt Piper – subsequently listed for both the Telegraph and William Hill Sports Book of the Year awards.