The Panama national team qualified this Tuesday for the 2026 World Cup by defeating El Salvador 3-0 in a match held at the Rommel Fernandez stadium in the Panamanian capital.
The Canal team took the lead with an early goal by César Blackman in the 17th minute with a powerful shot in the small area, while the second came through Eric Davis, who extended the lead with a penalty kick. Jose Luis Rodriguez finished off the Panamanian triumph with a left-footed shot in the 85th minute, which was followed by an explosion of joy and at the same time tranquility for the Central American reds.
Panama dominates the first half
Panama’s first clear chance came in the 11th minute.
Ismael Díaz received a ball in the area, but his shot went over the crossbar.
Just a minute later, Salvadoran goalkeeper Mario Gonzalez flawlessly deflected a header from Diaz himself, preventing the opening goal and silencing the screaming in the stands.
Panama’s pressure was rewarded in the 17th minute, when a loose ball in the box fell to César Blackman, who struck first-time to make it 1-0.
Panama again came close to a second goal in the 32nd minute, when Aníbal Godoy’s overlapping run ended in a precise cross for Cecilio Waterman’s scissor kick, whose shot sailed over the goal.
El Salvador generated their most dangerous move in the 41st minute, after Andres Andrade lost the ball, leaving Styven Vasquez to shoot, but his shot went wide and just wide of the post.
In the 45+2 minute, Waterman caused a foul in the box that resulted in a penalty kick.
Two minutes later, Eric Davis converted from 11 yards to extend the lead to 2-0.
With that score, both teams went to the break.
Decisive goal at 85′.
In the second half, the Panamanians, knowing that Suriname had lost by a landslide to Guatemala, focused on maintaining the result.
Even so, in the 54th minute, César Blackman had a clear chance, but his shot was not on target.
In the 64th minute, Styven Vasquez headed the ball over Panama’s defense, but to no avail.
Waterman, in the 70th minute, had another chance to increase the score, off a pass from Diaz, but his shot went wide.
José Luis Rodríguez, in the 83rd minute, a free kick hit the post, again saving El Salvador.
Panama sealed their World Cup qualification in the 85th minute, José Luis Rodríguez left-footed into the back of the net to make it 3-0.
Technical data
3. Panama: Orlando Mosquera; César Blackman, Fidel Escobar, Andrés Andrade, Eric Davis; Aníbal Godoy (m.59 . Cristian Martínez), Carlos Harvey, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Azarias Londoño (m.59 José Fajardo); Ismael Díaz (m.72 Alberto Quintero) and Cecilio Waterman (m.72, José Luis Rodríguez).
Coach: Thomas Christiansen.
0. El Salvador: Mario González; Julio Sibrian, Ronald Gómez, Adán Climaco (m.71 Noel Rivera), Rudy Clavel (m.45. Joshua Pérez) Darwin Cerén (m.36 Elvis Claros), Brayan Landaverde, Herberth Díaz, Jairo Henríquez; Styven Vásquez and Michell Mercado.
Coach: Hernán Darío Gómez
Referee: Said Martínez of Honduras cautioned Panama’s Anibal Godoy and El Salvador’s Rudy Clavel and Elvis Claros.
Goals: 1-0, minute 17: César Blackman. 2-0, 45+4 minutes: Eric Davis (p). 3-0, 85th minute: José Luis Rodríguez.
Incidents: Group A match of the final phase of the CONCACAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers played at the Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez Stadium, in the Panamanian capital.
With information from EFE
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com
