Qualifier

“I think we came up short in a number of areas,” Berhalter said after the loss. “Now it's about rebounding, focusing on the game on Wednesday in Columbus, and having a positive game there and getting three points.”

After avoiding a disastrous scenario last qualifying cycle by coming back at Honduras to win 4-1, ending the first three games with five points instead of two, the USMNT started this international window with a solid 2-0 win against Jamaica in Austin, Texas.

Berhalter made seven changes to his lineup at Panama mostly due to a quick turnaround between games, but two of which he was also forced to make due to COVID-19 restrictions for players on English clubs. That backfired.

Midfielder Tyler Adams, winger Brenden Aaronson and forward Ricardo Pepi entered as subs in the second half. Outside back Sergino Dest and center back Miles Robinson didn't play.

The Americans had to survive several threatening moments from Panama, and they struggled mightily to connect passes through the midfield and generate scoring opportunities. The Americans had no shots on goal to Panama's

four. The five overall shots for the U.S. were the fewest in 28 World Cup qualifying games since 2013.

“We were really poor with our passing and some of our movement,” Berhalter said. “We performed below the expectations we had for ourselves.”

Costa Rica isn't as strong as the team that qualified for the 2018 World Cup, and Berhalter will likely have the best of the group that started against Jamaica start again in this important game. Berhalter said Tuesday that midfielder Weston Mckennie is progressing, but stopped short of saying he would play. Mckennie's status is in question because Berhalter had decided against having him travel to Panama for precautionary reasons after the 23-year-old developed quad soreness.

The Americans are still in a decent position to qualify. A win would give the U.S. a bullish outlook. A draw — and especially a loss — at home to Costa Rica would throw qualification from likely to questionable. Los Ticos, meanwhile, are two points back of the Americans after a comeback 2-1 win against El Salvador on Sunday.

As it was when it hosted four straight Dos-a-cero qualifying matches against Mexico, Columbus is being relied upon to help the Americans get back on track toward a return to the World Cup.

jmyers@dispatch.com

CHUCK BURTON/USA TODAY SPORTS United States forward Ricardo Pepi (15) leads the team with three goals in this round of World Cup qualifying. Here he celebrates scoring against Jamaica with teammates Paul Arriola (7) and Antonee Robinson (5).