As much as a game that's the third into a 14-game gauntlet can be a must-win, such are the circumstances for the U.S. men's national team in World Cup qualifying vs. Panama on Wednesday night in Honduras.
The U.S., fresh off a pair of draws at El Salvador and at home vs. Canada, takes on Los Catrachos in San Pedro Sula knowing that anything less than a win would put its quest to qualify for Qatar 2022 in serious peril. Compounding the results have been injuries to key players (Gio Reyna, Sergiño Dest) and discipline to a team leader (Weston McKennie), leaving manager Gregg Berhalter in need of some outside-the-box options for the key match.