Michael Nsien, who recently applied to coach the Super Eagles, has qualified the USA to the final of CONCACAF U20 Championship after clinching a ticket to the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
USA beat Panama 2-1 in the semifinal of CONCACAF U20 Championship.
With just four minutes left in regulation time at the Estadio León in Mexico, midfielder Brooklyn Raines struck a rocket from 30 yards off an attempted clearance to push the USA Under-20 Men’s National Team past Panama 2-1 and into their fourth consecutive CONCACAF U20 Championship Final.
With the game level 1-1 in the dying moments, the USA were on the attack and forced the Panama defence on their heels in the box.
That’s when a final clearance attempt fell to Raines, who wasted no time firing his long-range shot into the top right corner for the game-winning goal.
The USA initially took the lead with only their second shot of the match.
Forward David Vazquez poked a Niko Tsakiris cross past Panama goalkeeper Cecilio Burgess in the 40th minute to give Michael Nsien’s side a 1-0 halftime lead.
Panama equalised in the 72nd minute thanks to a Rafael Mosquera penalty kick.