The selection of Panama was classified this Tuesday to 2026 World Cup by defeating 3-0 El Salvador in a match held at the Rommel Fernández stadium in the Panamanian capital. The Canalero team took the lead on the scoreboard with an early goal from César Blackman in the 17th minute with a powerful shot in the six-yard box, while the second came through Eric Davis, who extended the advantage from a penalty.
José Luis Rodríguez finished supporting the Panamanian victory with a left-footed shot in the 85th minute, which was followed by an explosion of joy and at the same time tranquility for the Central American red.
The first clear chance came in the 11th minute, when Ismael Díaz received a ball in the area, but his shot went over the crossbar. Barely a minute later, the Salvadoran goalkeeper, Mario González, impeccably deflected a header from Díaz himself, preventing the opening of the scoreboard and silencing the cry for a goal in the stands.
The Panamanian pressure was rewarded in the 17th minute, when a loose ball inside the area fell to the feet of César Blackman, who connected first to make it 1-0. Panama came close to scoring a second goal in the 32nd minute, after an overflow by Aníbal Godoy that ended in a precise cross for Cecilio Waterman’s scissors, whose shot went over the goal.
El Salvador generated its most dangerous play in the 41st minute, after a turnover by Andrés Andrade that left Styven Vásquez lined up for the shot, although his shot opened and passed near the post. At 45+2, Waterman caused a foul in the area that led to a penalty. Two minutes later, Eric Davis converted from the spot to extend the lead to 2-0.
With that score, both teams went to halftime. In the second half, the Panamanians, knowing Suriname’s landslide defeat against Guatemala, dedicated themselves to maintaining the result. Even so, in the 54th minute, César Blackman had a clear shot, but his shot was not on target. In the 64th minute, Styven Vasquez’s header troubled the Panama defense, but without success.
TECHNICAL SHEET
3 – Panama: Orlando Mosquera; César Blackman, Fidel Escobar, Andrés Andrade, Eric Davis; Aníbal Godoy (m.59. Cristian Martínez), Carlos Harvey, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Azarias Londoño (m.59 José Fajardo); Ismael Díaz (d.72 Alberto Quintero) and Cecilio Waterman (d.72, José Luis Rodríguez).
0 – El Salvador: Mario González; Julio Sibrian, Ronald Gómez, Adán Climaco (m.71 Noel Rivera), Rudy Clavel (m.45. Joshua Pérez) Darwin Cerén (m.36 Elvis Claros), Brayan Landaverde, Herberth Díaz, Jairo Henríquez; Styven Vásquez and Michell Mercado.
Referee: Honduran Said Martínez cautioned Anibal Godoy of Panama and Salvadorans Rudy Clavel and Elvis Claros.
Goals: 1-0, César Blackman (m. 17); 2-0, Eric Davis from a penalty, at 45+4); 3-0, José Luis Rodríguez (m. 85)
Incidents: Group A match of the final phase of the Concacaf qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup played at the Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez Stadium, in the Panamanian capital.
Waterman, in the 70th, had another to expand the score, after a pass from Díaz, but his shot went wide. José Luis Rodríguez, in the 83rd minute, a free kick hit the post, El Salvador is saved again. Panama sealed its world ranking in the 85th minute, José Luis Rodríguez put it into the back of the net with his left foot to make it 3-0.
