The USMNT are out of contention for the Nations League trophy after a stunning loss to Panama Thursday night, a result Tony Meola says could have been different if goalkeeper Matt Turner chose better positioning on the game-deciding goal.
Cecilio Waterman scored a stunning goal in the 94th minute as Panama beat the three-time defending champions 1-0. Waterman took a pass down the right side from Adalberto Carrasquilla in front of a packed-in U.S. defense and fired a perfect diagonal shot past Turner into the far left corner for the game-winner.
"That ball can't end up in the back of the net," Meola said on CBS. "I look at the angle Matt Turner took and... yes, the pace of the shot, not going to take anything away from the goalscorer, but in this moment, at this time, Turner is a bit tucked in there [at goal] and... his feet are planted and he doesn't have that explosion. I'm not blaming Turner, but those are moments where you have to find a way."
Meola also raised the question about Turner's game fitness as the goalkeeper has rarely played for his club team Crystal Palace.
"I'm going to say this until the World Cup, it's sharpness," Meola said. "It's sharpness, the toughest thing for a goalkeeper is when you have nothing to do and then all of the sudden, you have something to do. That's the sharpness at the end. When you're training every day [as a starter], it's a rhythm, you're getting five, six shots your way. You're finding timing. Now [in Turner's situation], it's one shot you're way."
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