The selection of Mexico defeated this Thursday 0-1 Panama thanks to an own goal in the 90+3 minute, in a friendly match played outside of FIFA dates, marked by the dominance of El Tri and the solid defensive resistance of the Panamanian team. The match began with a Mexican team putting high pressure on Panama, who opted to retreat into their own field and look for a counterattack with long balls aimed at Kadir Barría.
Although Javier Aguirre’s Tri maintained the initiative during the first minutes, the first dangerous action was for Thomas Christiansen’s Panama. At minute 9, Giovany Herbert tried with a long-distance shot that passed close to the goal defended by José Rangel. After that arrival, El Tri once again took control of the ball, but was unable to clearly cause any problems until the 34th minute, when Brian Gutiérrez took a free kick that marked the first shot on goal for the home team.
The clearest chance of the first half was again for Mexico. In the 42nd minute, Richard Ledezma sent a cross that Germán Berterame headed in, although the ball went wide, much to the relief of the Panamanian team.
The second half maintained the same script, with Mexico dominating possession and Panama resisting in its field. Berterame warned in the 54th with a shot that went wide, and in the 61st minute Kevin Castañeda had a clear option in front of goal but goalkeeper Gunn prevented the goal with a good intervention. Panama barely managed to create danger and its first shot of the complement came in the 64th minute, with an attempt by Ángel Caicedo.
TECHNICAL SHEET
0 – Panama: JD Gunn; Richard Peralta, Omar Córdoba (m.80 Luis Asprilla), Kevin Galvan, Daniel Aparicio; Héctor Hurtado (m.66 Abdul Knight), Ariel Arroyo (m.45 Javier Rivera), Giovany Herbert (m.73 Kahiser Lenis), Ricardo Phillips Jr (m.45 Ángel Caicedo), José Murillo: Kadir Barría (m.66 Gustavo Herrera).
Coach: Thomas Christiansen.
1. Mexico: José Rangel; Víctor Guzmán, Bryan González (m.85 Jesús Gallardo), Eduardo Águila; Richard Ledezma, Obed Vargas (d.57 Carlos Rodríguez), Marcel Ruiz (d.66 Armando González), Luis Romo; Roberto Alvarado (m57: Alexis Gutiérrez), Brian Gutiérrez (m357 Kevin Castañeda) and Germán Berterame (m.67 Erik Lira).
Coach: Javier Aguirre.
Referee: The American Guido González admonished the Panamanian Daniel Aparicio and the Mexicans Luis Romo and Kevin Castañeda.
Goal: 0-1, Richard Peralta, own goal (m. 90+3)
Incidents: Undated FIFA friendly match played at the Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez Stadium, in the Panamanian capital.
In the final minutes, Mexico intensified its pressure. In the 89th minute, Armando González demanded Gunn again with a header that the goalkeeper deflected over the crossbar. When it seemed that the tie was sealed, the winning goal came in added time. At minute 90+3, a combination between Jesús Gallardo, Armando González and Kevin Castañeda ended with an own goal by Richard Peralta, which sealed the Mexican victory.
