When the ball started rolling in the gleaming Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the expectation was for a fierce clash between the United States and Panama in the Copa América. However, what unfolded was a real whirlwind, with Tim Weah taking center stage as the night's villain. At 18 minutes in, a seemingly harmless play changed the course of the match. Weah found himself in the eye of the storm facing Panamanian defender Roderick Miller. Initially punished with a yellow card, the situation quickly escalated when referee Ivan Barton reviewed the play and upgraded the yellow to the dreaded red. And off went Weah, leaving his teammates in a tough spot.
Tim Weah, 24, apologized to the team, aware of the devastating impact of his expulsion. "You never intend to get a red card, under any circumstances, he's not that kind of person," declared Tyler Adams, the midfielder who, with a dose of solidarity, tried to downplay his colleague's mistake. Weah's act of apologizing is commendable, but it doesn't erase the stain of the USMNT's fastest red card since 2010. That night, Jimmy Conrad saw red at 17 minutes in a friendly against Honduras.
Follow MLS Multiplex on X (Twitter).
Captain Christian Pulisic didn't beat around the bush, stating that Weah knows what he did wrong. "That's it. He's learning from it. Yeah, it's bad. You don't want to put your team in that position."
Coach Gregg Berhalter didn't mince words, calling Weah's action a "stupid decision." Losing a player so early in the game was a tough blow, especially since the team was fighting tooth and nail to stay in the match. "The guys gave it their all and we were close to coming away with a point. But you know, it's a shame because there was more in this game," lamented Berhalter.
With 40 caps and six goals for the USMNT, Weah's absence will be felt, and Berhalter is already looking at alternatives. "We've got options," the coach stated, citing Haji Wright and Brendan Aaronson as possible replacements.