San Pedro Sula, Honduras | AFP | Panama managed to raise a 2-0 and ended up beating Honduras 3-2 this Friday for the seventh day of the Concacaf octagonal to the Qatar-2022 World Cup, in a match played at the San Pedro Sula Metropolitan Olympic Stadium.
Alberth Elis, at minute 29, and Brayan Moya, at 57, scored for the ‘H’, while Cecilio Waterman (76), César Yanis (79) and Eric Davis (85) scored for the canaleros managing to turn the board .
The panañemos that came from being beaten 4-1 by Canada on the sixth matchday and with the victory rekindled their hopes of qualifying for a second World Cup by reaching 11 points. The catracha squad continued in the tail of the hexagonal with just 3 points.
– Bad debut of “Bolillo” –
In the “H”, Colombian coach Hernán “Bolillo” Gómez made his debut, replacing Uruguayan Fabián Coito in a desperate attempt to reorient the route.
The actions began with attempts by both contenders to take possession of the midfield. The ball did not last long for the players of the two teams in that fight. There were no plays that disturbed the goalkeepers, no matter how much horizontal play.
As the minutes passed, the Panamanians settled down better on the ground and rehearsed lukewarm attacks, especially with Fredy Gondola who overflowed on the left with ease.
Adalberto Carrasquilla complicated the locals, who, going out with dominated ball individually, sought to launch Gondola and Rolando Blackburn located at the top.
But neither team was able to come out clearly from the bottom. The marks were imposed and the only lukewarm attacks appeared jumping the lines with aerial balls.
Thus came the 1-0 through a deep ball from the bottom, sent by side Omar Elvir, which left Alberth Elis against center-back Eric David, whom he gained in speed and in hand-to-hand he defeated with a soft touch down to goalkeeper Luis Mejía.
From now on, the game leaned slightly towards an inspired Honduras with the score in favor but always with a game more fighting than technical quality.
After the break, the canaleros appeared trying to play with elaborate football, securing the ball at the feet to give it greater fluidity, in search of the equalizer.
However, after a shot from the corner, Honduras managed a quick transition and defender Fidel Escobar, in a bad clearance, left the ball to Brayan Moya, who also faced Mejía and placed the ball at the corner for the 2-0 at minute 57.
– Unexpected comeback –
The game looked full for the debut of “Bolillo” but the unexpected came for the catrachos, because they took the party out of their pocket.
At minute 76, defender Maynor Figueroa made a mistake when trying to play with goalkeeper Luis López, managing to intercept the ball from panañemo Cecilio Waterman to only deflect the ball to the goal catracha for 2-1.
The “H” fell with the error. A ball thrown into the area left César Yaris alone and lifted the ball over the head of goalkeeper López for 2-2 in minute 79.
With the execution of a free throw, at 85, Eric Davis turned the scoreboard masterfully for the Panamanians.
“With the three points I am super happy in the game, with a draw I was happy to see how the game was going 2-0”, highlighted the DT of Panama, Thomas Christiansen.
“Bolillo” stressed that the Honduran team “is coming from a crisis” and regretted that “a serious error” by Figueroa “collapsed the team, (which) brings a very heavy suitcase and did not assimilate what was behind” with Coito.
“There were 15 minutes left and we were calm … what sadness in the dressing room,” he stressed.
“We had many neglects. We are hurt, we are touched, I am particularly hurt,” acknowledged Figueroa.
