It is so often the way with goalkeepers — 90 minutes of relative inactivity, one big moment, then a whole lot of judgement. For Matt Turner, that’s what came deep into added time at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday, when Panama took their only shot on target all game — from the right side of the penalty area, drilled to the bottom left corner; Turner, who had taken position to the right of his goal, could not get his gloves to it. That ball can’t end up in the back of the net, lamented former USMNT goalkeeper-turned-pundit Tony Meola. Then, not long after the end of the home side’s 1-0 loss in that Concacaf Nations League semi-final, criticism of the goalkeeper appeared on social media, alongside stills of the goal questioning his movement. Not ideal then, but neither is it unprecedented. Sergio Romero was Argentina’s first-choice goalkeeper as they got to the final of the 2014 World Cup despite being second-string at Monaco of Ligue 1, the top division of French club football, and continued in his starting role for the national team despite going on to be the backup to David de Gea at Manchester United. Romero later described it as a “difficult situation.” Former Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey also had spells as No 1 for Wales, despite hardly playing in the Premier League at the back-end of his time at Selhurst Park. Hennessey was then second-choice for Burnley and Forest while still getting games for his country, including at the 2022 World Cup.
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