Carlo Costly and Wilson Palacios each scored go-ahead goals for Honduras, but Panama was able to equalize both times to pull out a 2-2 road tie in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying on Tuesday. Gabriel Torres scored twice for Los Canaleros, including a sweet back-heeled volley and a stoppage-time equalizer. The result allowed both the United States and Costa Rica to clinch spots in the 2014 World Cup.
CONCACAF World Cup qualifying recap: Honduras ties Panama, clinching United States’ spot
Panama gets stoppage-time equalizer, but the tie still sends the United States to Brazil.
Otto Greule Jr
Torres, a recently signed Designated Player with the Colorado Rapids, easily had the highlight of the match with this beauty:
But the more important goal for Panama came deep into stoppage time when Torres finished off a feed from Luis Henriquez from about nine yards out.
Panama pulled even on points with Mexico, who play one another at Estadio Azteca on Oct. 11. They'll finish off qualifying with a home game against the United States on Oct. 15.
Honduras remains in third place on 10 points. They'll host Costa Rica on Oct. 11 and visit Jamaica on Oct. 15.
Jamaica 1, Costa Rica 1: A stoppage-time goal from Jermaine Anderson kept Los Ticos from claiming full points and knocked them from the top spot in the Hexagonal. The former Arsenal youth player is just 17 and finished the left-footed attempt off a feed from the Houston Dynamo’s Jermaine Taylor.
Costa Rica was still able to clinch a spot in Brazil, qualifying for just the fourth time in their history. The last time they qualified was in 2006.
Los Ticos was able to strike first on a goal from Randall Brenes in the 74th minute.
Jamaica’s thin hopes of qualifying remain alive, but they’d almost certainly need full points from their final two matches and need some help after claiming just four points in their first eight. The Reggae Boyz visit in the United States on Oct. 11 and host Honduras on Oct. 15.
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