Americans continue to be disadvantaged in matches on road
Walker Zimmerman marveled at the crowd in Estadio Rommel Fernandez, almost all dressed in the Panamanian team color of red, a mass that throbbed in unison and buzzed like a hornet’s nest after the hosts took the lead.
“It was a great environment. You always want to play in environments like that, where there’s intensity, there’s energy amongst the crowd,” the American defender said. “No different than what we experienced in Salvador and Honduras.”
The United States’ 1-0 loss to Panama in a World Cup qualifier Sunday night again highlighted the Americans’ disadvantage on the road in Central America, where it doesn’t take much to get them out of sorts: heat, humidity, subpar surfaces, antiquated stadiums and dressing and showering back at the hotel as if in high school.
Three nights after looking so good during a 2-0 win over Jamaica on home soil, the U.S. failed to generate a single shot on target. The Americans’ five shots tied their low under coach Gregg Berhalter and their 0.22 expected goals were less than half of the previous nadir.
To qualify for a World Cup, a team generally has to win home games and perhaps pick up sporadic points on the road.
The U.S. Soccer Federation has made an effort to find pro-American environments, helped by new MLS venues.
Crowds of 43,028 at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium and 20,500 at new Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, overwhelmingly backed the U.S. at this cycle’s first two qualifiers, led by the American Outlaws, a fan group that has grown in numbers and travels to road games in limited numbers. American fans clapped rhythmically, but they didn’t intimidate opponents the way Central American fans unnerve the U.S.
Mexico leads with 11 points after five of 14 matches and the U.S. has eight, ahead of Panama on goal difference. Canada follows with seven, Costa Rica six, El Salvador five, Honduras three and Jamaica two. Five remaining home matches are an opportunity for 15 points, likely enough for one of the three guaranteed berths.
“We have to be ready to to win our home games,” Zimmerman said.
World Cup qualifying:
Germany became the first country to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after booking its place with an error-strewn 4-0 win in North Macedonia in Group J . ... Croatia midfielder Luka Modric scored from a free kick to salvage a 2-2 draw with visiting Slovakia as Russia moved to the top of Europe Group H in World Cup qualifying . ... Memphis Depay scored twice, had two assists and missed a penalty as the Netherlands overpowered visiting Gibraltar 6-0 to remain top of Europe Group G. Second-place Norway, without injured striker Erling Haaland, beat Montenegro 2-0 to stay two points behind. Controversial record: Kevin Hubbell of Benzie Central High School, one of the best players in Michigan, scored 16 goals against Kingsley, breaking state and national records. The Sept. 29 game was declared over at halftime — a 17-0 wipeout of a winless team.
“To go after a personal record like that at the cost of another team’s dignity was a little uncalled for,” said Kingsley coach Tim VanWingerden, whose team is 0-15. “Soccer is a gentleman’s sport.”
Hubbell and Benzie Central coach Chris Batchelder knew the records were possible and discussed them during the game. The state record was 10; the national record was 14, set in 2002.
“We are in a society where negative speaks before positive,” Batchelder said. “I knew everyone wouldn’t agree when he broke the record. I knew there’d be some people upset with it.”
If there’s any criticism, he said, it should be directed at him.