INGLEWOOD >> Cecilio Waterman scored a stunning goal in the fourth minute of second-half injury time, and Panama beat the three-time defending champion United States 1-0 on Thursday night to reach the CONCACAF Nations League final.

Waterman took a pass down the right side from Adalberto Carrasquilla in front of a packed-in U.S. defense and fired a perfect right-footed diagonal shot past Matt Turner into the far left corner. Waterman’s 11th international goal, on Panama’s only shot on target on the night, advanced the Panamanians to a final Sunday against Mexico or Canada.

The loss, before at half-empty SoFi Stadium, was a big stumble for U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino, who replaced Gregg Berhalter six months ago after the Americans’ first-round exit at the Copa America.

After Sunday’s third-place match against Canada or Mexico, Pochettino will have his full player pool for just five training camps before the team gathers ahead of the World Cup.

Japan makes World Cup >> Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after beating Bahrain 2-0 at Saitama Stadium.

Second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo ensured the Samurai Blue secured a spot in Asia Group C’s top two automatic qualification places.

At its eighth successive World Cup, Japan joins co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico in the expanded 48-team tournament.

Chelsea signs pair >> Chelsea is spending more than 74 millions euros ($80 million) on two youngsters from Sporting Portugal, continuing its strategy of building a squad around highly rated promising players.

The Portuguese team said late Wednesday that it reached an agreement with the Premier League side for the transfer of Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo.

College football

former coach charged >> Former NFL and University of Michigan assistant football coach Matt Weiss hacked into the computer accounts of thousands of college athletes seeking intimate photos and videos, according to an indictment filed.

Weiss, who worked for the Baltimore Ravens before joining Michigan’s staff in 2021, was charged with 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 counts of identity theft.

Weiss was fired in 2023 as Michigan’s co-offensive coordinator after failing to cooperate with the school’s investigation of his access to computers.

Women’s basketball

WNBA hits prime time >> Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will have two of their games broadcast in prime time nationally for the first time in league history.

The June 7 and Aug. 9 games between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky will be shown on CBS. Both games are on Saturday night.

The WNBA will have more than 175 games broadcast across multiple platforms in the regular season, including 13 on ABC. The network will have an opening weekend doubleheader of Las Vegas against New York and Chicago vs. Indiana on May 17.

Golf

five share lead >> Keith Mitchell thrived in a tough wind on a tough Copperhead course at Innisbrook until he dropped two shots late in his round and had to settle for a 4-under 67 and a five-way share of the lead in the Valspar Championship.

The gusts were in the 30 mph range at times. Rain pelted the players in the afternoon during a brief shower. And the course already has a reputation as one of the best tests on the PGA Tour.

Stanford named Solehim cup captain >> Angela Stanford was introduced as the next U.S. captain of the Solheim Cup, leading a young core of Americans who are coming off a victory and will try to win the cup overseas for the first time in more than a decade.

Stanford was on the last American team that won away from home, in 2015 in Germany when Juli Inkster was at the helm. She was an assistant on the last three teams, including what she calls a “massive” victory in Virginia last September.