Five Things to Know: Panama

USA-PANAMA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING HISTORY

 

Los Canaleros recorded their first World Cup qualifying win over the USA, a 1-0 victory in Panama City on Oct. 10, 2021, behind Anibal Godoy's 54th-minute goal. Having first met Panama in qualifying during the 2006 cycle, the USA holds a strong 6-1-2 advantage and is 4-0-0 at home, outscoring the Central Americans, 14-0.

 

In the most recent home confrontation, the USA registered a 4-0 victory in Orlando, Fla. on Oct. 6, 2017. Christian Pulisic, then 19, sparked the USA with an early goal before setting up the first of Jozy Altidore's two scores. Bobby Wood closed out the scoring in the 63rd minute.

 

 

USA-Panama All-Time WCQ Results
Date	Score	Location	Cycle/Round
Sept. 8, 2004	1-1 D	Panama City, Panama	2006 Semifinal Round
Oct. 13, 2004	6-0 W	Washington, D.C.	2006 Semifinal Round
June 8, 2005	3-0 W	Panama City, Panama	2006 Final Round
Oct. 12, 2005	2-0 W	Foxborough, Mass.	2006 Final Round
June 11, 2013	2-0 W	Seattle, Wash.	2014 Final Round
Oct. 15, 2013	3-2 W	Panama City, Panama	2014 Final Round
March 28, 2017	1-1 D	Panama City, Panama	2018 Final Round
Oct. 6, 2017	4-0 W	Orlando, Fla.	2018 Final Round
Oct. 10, 2021	0-1 L	Panama City, Panama	2022 Final Round

 

RECENT MATCHES

 

The Panamanians are 2-4-0 in road qualifiers, their lone wins coming at Jamaica (3-0) on Sept. 5 and at Honduras (3-2) on Nov. 12.

 

Against the Hondurans, the Panamanians pulled off one of their most memorable WCQ comebacks, striking three times in the final 13 minutes to turn a two-goal deficit into a 3-2 triumph. Cecilio (77th minute), Cesar Yanis (80th minute) and Eric Davis (85th minute) scored.

 

Four days later, the Central American side posted a 2-1 home win over El Salvador, overcoming an early deficit. Cecilio Waterman (50th minute) and Freddy Góndola tallied within a two-minute span at the start of the second half.

 

During the winter window, the Central Americans were victorious in only one match, starting with a 1-0 defeat at Costa Rica on Jan. 27.

 

They bounced back with a 3-2 home victory against Jamaica, overcoming an early 1-0 deficit. After an own goal late in the first half equalized the match. Davis (51st minute) and Azmahar Ariano (69th minute) tallied second-half goals to clinch the win.

 

Panama dropped a 1-0 decision at Mexico on Feb. 2.

 

The Central Americans allowed two valuable home points slip through their fingers while playing to a 1-1 draw with last-place Honduras on Thursday night. Rolando Blackburn lifted Panama into a 23rd-minute minute lead, but Kevin Lopez equalized in the 65th minute.

 

PANAMA MANAGER

 

Thomas Christiansen, a native of Denmark, took over Panama's head coaching reigns on July 23, 2020, replacing American Gallego. He has guided the Central Americans to a 10-5-6 mark.

 

The 48-year-old Christiansen played for several clubs in his native country, as well as Spain and Germany during a 15-year professional career. His teams included Barcelona, Sporting Gijon, Racing Santander, Oviedo and Villarreal in Spain and with Bochum and Hannover in Germany.

 

He was the Bundesliga's joint-leading goal-scorer with Bayern Munich's Giovane Élber during the 2002-03 season.

 

He played twice for Spain's national team, scoring one goal.

 

He turned to coaching, directing AEK Larmaca and APOEL in Greece, Leeds United in England and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.

 

ROSTER

 

Christiansen called in 26 players for the March window, mostly foreign-based performers. Los Canaleros' foreign legion spreads across 11 different countries - Spain (four players), Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Belgium, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Costa Rica and the United States.

 

Only four players compete in Panama - goalkeepers Eric Hughes (Tauro) and Cesar Samudio (Independiente) and defenders Jorge Cordoba (Tauro) and Jorge Gutiérrez (Tauro).

 

As the oldest field player, 34-year-old midfielder Alberto Quintero has accrued the most the caps (114), followed by 32-year-old midfielder Anibal Godoy (111).

 

Godoy (Nashville SC) and midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo) are the only MLS players on the squad.

 

Forward Gabriel Torres has scored a team-best 22 international goals. Forward Cecilio Waterman, who scored three goals in qualifiers last fall, has returned to the team.

 

PANAMA ROSTER BY POSITION:

 

Goalkeepers: Eric Hughes (Tauro), Luis Mejía (Española, Chile), Orlando Mosquera (Carabobo, Venezuela), César Samudio (Independiente)

 

Defenders: Andrés Andrade (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), César Blackman (Dunajská Streda, Slovakia), José Córdoba (Levski Sofía, Bulgaria), Harold Cummings (Árabe Unido), Eric Davis (Dunajská Streda, Slovakia), Fidel Escobar (Alcorcón, Spain), Jorge Gutiérrez (Tauro), Michael Amir Murillo (Anderlecht, Belgium)

 

Midfielders: Abdiel Ayarza (Cusco, Peru), Yoel Bárcenas (Leganés, Spain), Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo, USA), Aníbal Godoy (Nashville SC, USA), Freddy Góndola (Alajuelense, Costa Rica), Cristian Martínez (Monagas, Venezuela), Alberto Quintero (Universitario, Peru), José Luis Rodríguez (Sporting Gijón, Spain), César Yanis (Zamora, Spain), Victor Medina (Saprissa, Costa Rica)

 

Forwards: Rolando Blackburn (Royal Pari, Bolivia), Ismael Díaz (Universidad Católica, Ecuador), Gabriel Torres (Antofagasta, Chile), Cecilio Waterman (Cobresal, Chile)