CATHERINE HALL, St James — Panama joined Mexico in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup after beating Guatemala 1-0 in their Group A decider at the Montego Bay Sports Complex yesterday to take the second automatic CONCACAF qualifying spot.
A well-placed header from Ismael Diaz in the 65th minute, his fifth of the competition, was enough for the ‘Canaleros’ to qualify for a fifth men’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Panama won Group A with maximum 15 points and will meet Group B winners Mexico in Saturday’s final to decide the CONCACAF champions.
Guatemala, on 10 points, will get another bite at the cherry when they play a team from Group B in Saturday’s play-offs that will decide the other two CONCACAF places in the World Cup that will be held in New Zealand May-June this year.
It was another workman-like performance by Panama, who had looked sluggish in their 1-0 win over nine-man Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday at the same venue.
Needing to win, Guatemala came out hard but the steely Panama defence, that is yet to give up a goal, held them at bay.
Panama came close to scoring in the first half when Carlos Small’s rocket of a shot flew past the post by less than six inches in the 35th minute.
After several promising build-ups, Panama finally got the breakthrough when Diaz headed home a corner from a right-side cross that beat goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen and flew into the top of the net.
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Panama join Mexico for New Zealand World Cup
