INGLEWOOD — The USMNT’s run of CONCACAF Nations League titles is over.

Panama’s Cecilio Waterman finally landed the knockout punch in stoppage time.

With the scoreless semifinal match looking like it was headed to extra time on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium, Waterman got possession on the right wing and hit a low shot from just outside the penalty area that eluded U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner and sent the Panamian bench into wild celebrations.

Waterman hopped the video board and ran toward the Paramount+ broadcast table and hugged legendary player Thierry Henry.

With the goal, Waterman propelled Panama to a 1-0 win and into Sunday’s final against either Canada or Mexico. The U.S. will meet the loser of the Canada-Mexico game in the third-place match on Sunday.

While it was celebrations on one side, it was the opposite for coach Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT.

“The first half was painful to see. The way we approached the game wasn’t in the right way,” Pochettino said. “That is why I feel so disappointed and we all feel disappointed.

“The first half, I think we played too slow, so comfortable on the pitch. We didn’t show aggression with the ball and the consequence of not showing aggression with the ball, I think we also didn’t show aggression in different situations.

“When you knew you had to be aggressive in the way with the ball when you have the space and try to go forward, be clinical, very mature to approach the game and I don’t think we showed that. They (Panama) were hungry for every ball like it was the last one. You could feel the difference on the field.”

The Americans had won the previous three Nations League tournaments (2021, 2023 and 2024). This was the first loss under Pochettino, who took over in September.

The U.S. nearly broke the scoreless stalemate in the 84th minute. Patrick Agyemang’s shot, after he fought off the physical pressure of Carlos Harvey, was turned away by Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera. Agyemang had another chance moments later, when Christian Pulisic made an end-line and cut the ball back to Agyemang, who was making a central run in front of goal.

That left the door open for Waterman and Panama to sneak the game over the line.

“It was a good finish, it’s in the bottom corner, on another day, maybe I save it, maybe not, but the way I’ve working with goalkeeper coach here, I try to apply the principles we’ve been working on, but unfortunately for me, I couldn’t get my hand on it,” USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner said.

This edition of the tournament has been viewed as having added importance as the countdown begins toward next year’s FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The American team will also compete for the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer, but Pochettino will likely not have his full first-team roster available for that event.

The USMNT’s once-easy work against Panama is no longer the case. Panama defeated the U.S. on penalty kicks in the third-place game of the 2015 Gold Cup and again in the 2023 Gold Cup semifinals. The nations split their 2022 World Cup qualifiers and Panama beat a short-handed American squad in group play in last year’s Copa America, 2-1, when the hosts failed to reach the knockout stage.

“They have a lot of belief with what they’re doing,” Turner said. “Sitting in that deep block …For us, we have a lot of belief in what we’re doing and we just have to continue to stick to our principles and be more ruthless in front of goal and if we can do that, especially early in the game. The longer we leave them in the game, the more belief they have and the more belief they grow into.

“For us, I think we need to put our foot down on the gas, have more urgency early in the game and get the result that we desire.”

This was the U.S. team’s first game since January, when Pochettino’s squad defeated Venezuela (3-1) and Costa Rica (3-0).

Very little happened in the first half of this one – for either team.

The best two chances came for the Americans and one wouldn’t have counted. Josh Sargent’s first chance, from the 6-yard mark, hit a defender and then hit the post. He scored on his second, but Timothy Weah was offside in the buildup, negating the goal.

Sargent didn’t see much of the ball the rest of the night and was eventually subbed off in the 69th minute.

He was replaced by Agyemang, who had the two chances late, but it ended being a night of missed chances for the USMNT.

“I think we missed the killer instinct at the end of the day,” defender Chris Richards said. “Of course, we let in a goal …I think if we score a goal (early), they’re chasing the game and I think we left them in the game for a little bit too long …maybe we lacked a bit of urgency, lack final third quality, but again that’s kind of football at the end of the day. We have to learn from it and keep pushing.”