An own goal was enough for Costa Rica to defeat Panama on Wednesday evening in Philadelphia and qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals.
Panamanian Captain AnÃbal Godoy tried to clear a free kick from Tico midfielder David Guzmán. Instead, he sent the ball inside his own goal at the 77th minute.
The result allows La Sele to advance to the semifinals where they will face the U.S. team that, later on Wednesday, beat El Salvador 2-0.
La Sele and the United States will play on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the ATT Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for a spot in the final.
The other semifinalists will be the winners of Thursday’s matches between current champion Mexico against Honduras, and Jamaica against Canada. Both matches will take place in Glendale, Arizona.
Costa Rica 1 – 0 Panama
Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Referee: Oscar Moncada (Honduras)
Goal:
Costa Rica: AnÃbal Godoy (77 ‘, own goal)
Yellow Cards:
Costa Rica: David RamÃrez (21′)
Panama: AnÃbal Godoy (74′)
Lineups:
Costa Rica: Patrick Pemberton – José Salvatierra, Giancarlo González, Kendall Watson, Johnny Acosta – David Guzmán, Bryan Ruiz, Francisco Calvo, Yeltsin Tejeda (Kenner Gutiérrez, 85′) – Marco Ureña and David RamÃrez (Ariel RodrÃguez, 64′-Ulises Segura, 77′). Coach: Oscar RamÃrez.
Panama: José Calderón – Michael Murillo, Fidel Escobar, Roberto Chen, Luis Ovalle – Armando Cooper (Abdiel Arroyo, 57′), Gabriel Gómez (Leslie Heraldez, 67′), AnÃbal Godoy, Edgar Bárcenas, Miguel Camargo (ValentÃn Pimentel, 69′) – Gabriel Torres. Coach: Hernán Gómez.
Match highlights:
https://www.facebook.com/goldcup/videos/1091613237607261/
