The U.S. used four first-half goals and a hat trick by Christian Pulisic to overwhelm Panama for a 5-1 win in a World Cup qualifying match.
The win all but ensures the Americans a spot in the World Cup for the first time since 2014.
A loss by six or more goals in Costa Rica on Wednesday night can knock the U.S. out of one of the top three automatic qualifying places in the North, Central America, and the Caribbean qualifying region. The U.S. has not lost a game by six or more goals since a 1979 exhibition match against France.
While the U.S. has never won in Costa Rica, goal differential is the first tiebreaker, and the Americans are plus-13 to Costa Rica’s plus-3. The U.S. also holds the second tiebreaker of total goals, 21 to 11.
If the improbable does happen and the U.S. falls by six or more goals, the team will still finish no worse than fourth place, which would give them a berth to a two-game playoff, likely against New Zealand, for a spot in the World Cup.
“We want to go there and win the game,” United States Coach Gregg Berhalter said about the game in Costa Rica. “Just like I’ve been saying in the first two games: We go into each game preparing to win.”
The unlikelihood of a six-goal-plus loss had the American players and fans celebrating as though they had already clinched the spot following the Panama win.
The U.S. players unveiled a red-and-blue banner with “QUALIFIED” in bold, white letters and paraded it around the field in celebration.
Pulisic opened the scoring in the 17th minute after a penalty kick was awarded to the Americans. Salvadoran referee Iván Barton awarded the penalty after a video review. He concluded that Panama’s Aníbal Godoy shoved the face of Walker Zimmerman inside the box during a corner kick. Pulisic stepped up to the spot and smashed home the goal.
Pulisic helped set up the second goal of the night by FC Dallas’ Paul Arriola. Pulisic tracked down a long pass from Zimmerman and passed it to Antonee Robinson, who crossed the ball into the box. The 5’6″ Arriola outjumped everyone to head the ball into the net for his ninth international goal and just the second-headed goal in his professional career.
Just 6 minutes later, another FC Dallas player, Jesus Ferreira, made it 3-0 with a right-foot shot from four yards out. It was Ferreira’s third goal for the U.S.
Pulisic made it 4-0 with another penalty kick in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time. The referee awarded the penalty kick again due to a foul by Godoy on a corner kick, this time committed against Miles Robinson. Pulisic is now 6-for-6 on penalty kicks in his U.S. career.
The U.S. scored four goals in the first half of a World Cup qualifier for the first time since a 5-2 win over Cuba in 1949.
Pulisic completed his first international hat trick in the 65th minute with a masterful goal. He controlled a cross from Antonee Robinson with his back to the goal, spun around, and touched the ball with his left foot to get past two defenders before tapping a right-foot shot past the goalkeeper.
Pulisic’s parents were among the sellout crowd of 25,022, and he was asked about them after the game.
“They just told me they were proud,” Pulisic said as he got emotional. “They’ve been everything for me in my life. So it was just a nice moment.”
The 23-year old Pulisic has scored 21 international goals, including 12 in World Cup qualifying.
Panama got on the board in the 86th minute via a header from Godoy off of a free-kick. The loss, coupled with the evening’s other results, mathematically eliminated the Panamanians from qualifying for the World Cup.
Costa Rica won 2-1 at El Salvador, while Mexico won 1-0 at Honduras. Canada officially clinched its first World Cup berth since 1986 with a 4-0 win over Jamaica. The Canadians are in first place in the qualifying region with 28 points, while the U.S. is second with 25 points, the same as Mexico but ahead on goal differential. Costa Rica has 22 points and will finish no worse than fourth place.