Anibal Godoy foul on Walker Zimmerman gives USMNT key early penalty kick, goal vs. Panama in CONCACAF World Cup qualifier

Nick Gray
Nashville Tennessean

Two Nashville SC stalwarts had a key interaction that resulted in an early U.S. Men's National Team goal in a pivotal CONCACAF 2022 World Cup qualifying match.

Panama's Anibal Godoy fouled USMNT center back Walker Zimmerman inside the penalty area during a set piece early in Sunday's match in Orlando.

No foul was originally called, but VAR enforced a foul on Godoy and a penalty for the U.S. inside the first 15 minutes of the game.

Christian Pulisic slotted home the penalty in the 17th minute to give the USMNT a 1-0 lead.

LIVE UPDATES:USMNT vs. Panama: live updates, score in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier

Take a look.

No harm, but a foul was given.

The American side cannot clinch a World Cup berth on Sunday after Costa Rica won at El Salvador earlier in the day. But a win would keep the U.S. three points ahead of 4th-place Costa Rica with one match left in CONCACAF qualifying, with the goal differential heavily tilted toward the USMNT. Panama needs a win to stay alive for a top-4 spot. 

The top three finishers in CONCACAF 2022 World Cup qualifying clinch a berth to the World Cup later this year in Qatar. (Canada has clinched the first berth.) The fourth-place finisher will face an inter-confederation playoff against the qualifying tournament winner from Oceania for the final spot in the World Cup.