Mexico’s national team defeated Panama 1-0 on Thursday thanks to an own goal in the 90+3rd minute, in a friendly match played outside of FIFA time, marked by El Tri’s dominance and the solid defensive resistance of the Panamanian team.
The game began with a Mexican team pressing Panama, who opted to retreat into their own half and look for a counterattack with long balls to Kadir Barría.
Panama strikes first, but Mexico controls
Although Mexico maintained the initiative during the first minutes, the first dangerous action was for the Panamanians.
In the 9th minute, Giovany Herbert tried a long distance shot that went close to the goal defended by José Rangel.
After that, El Tri regained control of the ball, but did not manage to make a clear breakthrough until the 34th minute.
Brian Gutiérrez took a free kick that was the first shot on goal for the home team.
The clearest chance of the first half was again for Mexico.
In the 42nd minute, Richard Ledezma sent in a cross that Germán Berterame headed in, but the ball went wide, much to the relief of the Panamanian team.
Mexico insists until the end
The second half followed the same script, with Mexico dominating possession and Panama holding their own in their own half.
Berterame gave a warning in the 54th minute with a shot that went wide.
In the 61st minute Kevin Castañeda had a clear option in front of goal, but goalkeeper Gunn prevented the goal with a good intervention.
Panama barely managed to generate danger and their first shot of the second half came in the 64th minute, with an attempt by Ángel Caicedo.
Mexico dominated virtually the entire match
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In the final minutes, Mexico intensified its pressure.
In the 89th minute, Armando Gonzalez once again challenged Gunn with a header that the goalkeeper deflected over the crossbar.
Just when it seemed that the tie was sealed, in stoppage time came the winning goal.
In the 90+3rd minute, a combination between Jesús Gallardo, Armando González and Kevin Castañeda ended with an own goal by Richard Peralta, which sealed the Mexican victory.
Technical data
0. Panama: JD Gunn; Richard Peralta, Omar Córdoba (m.80 Luis Asprilla), Kevin Galvan, Daniel Aparicio; Héctor Hurtado (m.66 Abdul Knigth), Ariel Arroyo (m.45 Javier Rivera), Giovany Herbert (m.73 Kahiser Lenis), Ricardo Phillips Jr (m.45 Ángel Caicedo), José Murillo: Kadir Barría (m.66 Gustavo Herrera).
Coach: Thomas Christiansen.
Mexico: José Rangel; Víctor Guzmán, Bryan González (m.85 Jesús Gallardo), Eduardo Águila; Richard Ledezma, Obed Vargas (m.57 Carlos Rodríguez), Marcel Ruiz (m.66 Armando González), Luis Romo; Roberto Alvarado (m57: Alexis Gutiérrez), Brian Gutiérrez (m357 Kevin Castañeda) and Germán Berterame (m.67 Erik Lira).
Coach: Javier “Vasco” Aguirre.
Referee: U.S. Guido González cautioned Panama’s Daniel Aparicio and Mexico’s Luis Romo and Kevin Castañeda.
Goal: 0-1, m.90+3: Richard Peralta(ag)
Incidents: Non-FIFA friendly match played at the Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez Stadium in the Panamanian capital.
With information from EFE
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