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 AnĂbal Godoy tried to clear a free kick from Tico midfielder David GuzmĂĄn. 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: AnĂbal Godoy (77 ‘, own goal)
Yellow Cards:
Costa Rica: David RamĂrez (21′)
Panama: AnĂbal Godoy (74′)
Lineups:
Costa Rica: Patrick Pemberton – JosĂ© Salvatierra, Giancarlo GonzĂĄlez, Kendall Watson, Johnny Acosta – David GuzmĂĄn, Bryan Ruiz, Francisco Calvo, Yeltsin Tejeda (Kenner GutiĂ©rrez, 85′) – Marco Ureña and David RamĂrez (Ariel RodrĂguez, 64′-Ulises Segura, 77′). Coach: Oscar RamĂrez.
Panama: JosĂ© CalderĂłn – Michael Murillo, Fidel Escobar, Roberto Chen, Luis Ovalle – Armando Cooper (Abdiel Arroyo, 57′), Gabriel GĂłmez (Leslie Heraldez, 67′), AnĂbal Godoy, Edgar BĂĄrcenas, Miguel Camargo (ValentĂn Pimentel, 69′) – Gabriel Torres. Coach: HernĂĄn GĂłmez.
Match highlights:
https://www.facebook.com/goldcup/videos/1091613237607261/