Panama crushed Costa Rica in the quarterfinal series of the Concacaf Nations League by defeating them at the Rommel Fernández Stadium 3-1, after 0-3 at the Ricardo Saprissa stadium in San Juan, which gave a resounding 6-1 that placed them in the semifinals of the tournament and, with it, also in the America Cup of the United States 2024.
José Fajardo in the 21st minute, José Rodríguez in the 23rd minute and Édgar Barcenas, with a penalty in the 43rd minute, resolved the match in the first half. Francisco Calvo closed the gap for the Costa Ricans in the 52nd minute.
In the first 15 minutes of play, Costa Rica dominated the ball, against a Panamanian team that preferred to wait.
That calmness bore fruit in the 21st minute, in a takedown by Michael Amir Murillo, who left a cross, which was connected by José Fajardo, who with a shot from his left foot and made the score 1-0.
The second goal for the Panamanian team came two minutes later with a powerful shot from the left foot of José Rodríguez, which slipped past Kevin Chamorro at the far post.
With the score 2-0 and five zeros on aggregate, Panama took its foot off the accelerator.
At minute 42, after a consultation with the VAR, a penalty was awarded to La Roja for a foul by Giancarlo González on José Rodríguez.
The 3-0 was established by Édgar Yoel Bárcenas in the 43rd minute.
The team of Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro came out in the second half all or nothing.
In the 52nd minute, newcomer Joel Campbell shot a cross that connected with a header to Francisco Calvo.
The goal by the former Ecuador coach’s pupils raised hopes, but Panama closed all lines.
The Panamanians dedicated themselves to defending and maintaining the result, against rivals desperate to score and reduce the score.
The last danger of the match came from Julio Cascante, in the 61st minute, with a header that went wide of Panama’s goal.
The scoreboard no longer moved and the Canaleros achieved victory against the Ticos.
The semifinals and final will be in Dallas, at Cowboys Stadium
This Monday, Concacaf made it official that the last four games of the tournament will be in Dallas, at the AT&T Stadium, in Arlington.
On Thursday, March 21, 2024, the two semifinals will take place, to which they have already accessed Panama and the United Stateswho are waiting for their rivals, who will emerge from the confrontations between Mexico vs. Honduras and Canada vs. Jamaica.
Three days later, on Sunday, March 24, the match for third place and the grand final will be played in the same building.
It is worth remembering that The four semifinalists will obtain their direct ticket to the Copa América 2024.
Costa Rica still has a chance to qualify for the 2024 Copa América
The Ticos are out of the Concacaf Nations League, but not the continental tournament that will be held in the United States in the summer of 2024, since The four losers of the quarterfinal round will compete for the last two tickets.
These games will be played at Toyota Stadium, in Frisco, in a single match, the winner of each match will qualify for the Copa América and the loser will return home empty-handed.
Both Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago are already installed In this instance, waiting for his rivalsthat They could be Mexico, Honduras, Canada or Jamaica.
Keep reading:
· Mexico falls against Honduras and puts its pass to the Copa América in jeopardy
· Guillermo Ochoa publishes a message of encouragement for El Tri ahead of the duel against Honduras
· Copa América 2024: The venues for the opening and final of the tournament are announced