PANAMA (AP) — This weekend, when Panama hosts Jamaica, they will not only urgently seek to add the three points, but will also be watching what Costa Rica does on their trip to Mexico.
The loss of the Panamanians by 1-0 in their visit to San José on Thursday left them with only two points of advantage over the Ticos themselves in the fight for fourth place that grants the passage to a playoff against a team from Oceania, when Five dates left.
On the other hand, Canada, the United States and Mexico consolidated more and more in the direct classification zone.
Panama had the great opportunity to hit Costa Rica for the first time as a visitor, which has been through quite a bit of waste in this tie and, incidentally, gain a foothold in fourth place and remain close to the top three places, with direct qualification for the World Cup.
However, he fell again in San José, conceding a goal from veteran Bryan Ruiz —who had become his executioner in recent qualifiers— in stoppage time, despite clearly dominating possession and generating several clear scoring chances.
Panama not only stalled at 14 points and let Costa Rica close with 12, but also saw the top three in the table slip away.
Canada maintained its undefeated record and lead by adding 19 units with its 2-0 away win over Honduras (3 points and almost eliminated); The United States remained in second with 18 after its 1-0 home win against El Salvador (6 points), and Mexico remained third with 17 after coming from behind to beat Jamaica 2-1 (7 points).
The sticks fell on some Panamanian players for wasting clear opportunities against Keylor Navas and coach Thomas Christiansen for certain changes he made in the starting eleven against the Ticos.
Hurt, the coach and the players clung to the possibility of regaining a larger lead in the fight for the playoffs on Sunday, with a victory over Jamaica – which they thrashed 3-0 in the first leg – coupled with a setback of Costa Rica in the Azteca.
“We lacked forcefulness,” admitted captain Aníbal Godoy. “Now to recover and arrive in the best way against Jamaica. It’s up to us as a local and they (the Ticos) have to go to Mexico.”
However, Godoy stressed that ensuring at least the repechage depends at this time on themselves.
After their match against Jamaica, Panama will have two home games remaining —against Honduras and Canada— and two away games against Mexico and the United States. After their trip to Mexico on Sunday, Costa Rica has two more games to play away from home —against Jamaica and El Salvador— and two at home against Canada and the United States.
“It is important that it has been won, because we are in the fight for classification,” said the coach of Costa Rica, the Colombian Luis Fernando Suárez. “What is coming is more complicated than what was presented against Panama.”
Jamaica would enter the fight for the playoffs if they beat Panama.
On Sunday, leaders Canada host the United States and a win will bring them even closer to Qatar. The Canadians have not qualified for a World Cup since Mexico 1986. And Honduras, which has almost thrown in the towel, receives a team from El Salvador who, by winning, will stay alive.
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