Honduras advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2013 after defeating Panama 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in their quarter-final clash on Saturday night.
Carlos Pineda scored the decisive spot-kick to send Honduras through to a semi-final showdown with defending champions Mexico on Wednesday in Santa Clara, California.
Panama, who had dominated the group stage, took the lead in the 44th minute when Ismael Díaz calmly converted a penalty awarded for a foul on Cristian Martínez. The goal was Díaz’s tournament-leading sixth, a new record for a Panamanian player in a single Gold Cup.
After struggling to create chances for much of the game, Honduras found an equaliser in the 82nd minute. Following a corner kick, a shot from Carlos Pineda was deflected into the net by striker Anthony Lozano to send the tie to extra time and ultimately a shootout.
In the shootout, both teams converted four of their first five kicks. Honduras had a chance to win with their fifth attempt, but Panama’s goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera saved Lozano’s shot. However, Panama’s Eduardo Guerrero then sent his effort over the crossbar, giving Honduras a second opportunity to seal the victory. Pineda stepped up and confidently dispatched his penalty into the bottom left corner.
The victory marks a significant achievement for Honduras, while Panama, a three-time Gold Cup runner-up, bow out of the tournament. The match was the first-ever knockout round meeting between the two nations in the Gold Cup.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.