Sporting KC Homegrown defender Erik Palmer-Brown and the U.S. Under-20 National Team opened the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship with a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Panama at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in Costa Rica on Saturday afternoon.
Palmer-Brown played the full 90 minutes as team captain for the U.S., spending the first 69 minutes as a holding midfielder before sliding into his more familiar role at center back. The 19-year-old produced a steady performance, completing 25 of 31 passes (81 percent) and making one steal in the game.
After a cagey opening, the complexion of the game changed in the 18th minute when Panama’s Justin Simons was shown a straight red card for a studs-up tackle on Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams – who came out of the game 13 minutes later having been unable to shake off the effects of the challenge.
Despite the man advantage, the U.S. was unable to create any clear-cut chances in the first half, instead falling behind to a goal from Leandro Avila in the 37th minute. The U.S. created their best opening shortly after the break, when Jeremy Ebobisse – the fourth pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft – headed against the underside of the crossbar from close range after being set up by Brooks Lennon.
In the 80th minute, Justen Glad took aim from 25 yards and forced Charles Taylor into a sprawling save down to his right. Two minutes later, Glad was again in the thick of the action as his square ball on the edge of the six-yard box caused chaos before Panama scrambled the ball out for a corner.
One final chance fell to Ebobisse in the 87th minute but Taylor produced an incredible save to deny the forward from six yards as Panama held out for the 1-0 victory.
Palmer-Brown and the U.S. U-20s return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 21 when the side takes on Haiti at 4:30 p.m. CT with the game broadcast on the CONCACAF Facebook page and Univision Deportes.
