HART-BREAK
Warriors go out on penalties to Panama
Published on Jul 19, 2015, 9:42 pm AST
By Ian Prescott
EQUALISER: Trinidad and Tobago forward Kenwyne Jones, second from right, heads the ball to score against Panama during their CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, yesterday. —Photo: AFP
Panama advanced to the quarter-final of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup followinging a dramatic 6-5 penalty victory shootout over Trinidad and Tobago men’s national footballers yesterday at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.
Two saves by T&T keeper Marvin Phillip put the Soca Warriors in position to win it (5-4) had defender Daneil Cyrus converted. But he casually lifted the ball over the crossbar, and after Panama went ahead, Slovenia-based Lester Peltier had his effort pushed onto the crossbar by Panama keeper Jaime Pinedo.
T&T’S Sheldon Bateau and Joevin Jones also missed from the spot. Panama now move onto the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, for a semi-final on Wednesday with the winner of last night’s second quarter-final between Mexico and Costa Rica.
Yesterday’s quarter-final match was decided in penalty kicks after 120 minutes of football left the teams deadlocked, following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes and an additional 30 minutes extra-time.
Luis Tejada 37th minute goal gave Panama a 1-0 lead in a sedate first half, where Trinidad and Tobago looked more likely to score. But Cardiff City striker Kenwyne Jones levelled the Soca Warriors at 1-1 in the 54th minute with a close-up header from Khaleem Hyland’s free-kick. Panama, though, looked better for the rest of the match and USA-based MLS striker Blas Perez missed two excellent scoring chances.
It was a hot, hot day in New Jersey, one when it was wise to conserve energy. So much so that Honduran referee Hector Rodriguez allowed two water breaks within the first half hour. Neither team went out full throttle in the first half, although the Soca Warriors looked more likely to score, until Tejada’s goal.
It was in many ways a lazy Soca Warriors effort, and not the complete 90 minutes T&T coach Stephen Hart was asking for. Defending was indecisive collectively and individually, while Panama’s Perez and Tejada were far more inclined towards work than Joevin Jones or Keron “Ball Pest†Cummings.
Following his impressive two-goal showing against Mexico, North East Stars midfielder Cummings won a starting spot at the expense of Central FC’s Ataulla Guerra. He also got the first chance in the opening minutes, but took too long on his weaker right foot and was bundled over.
Soon after, Joevin Jones’ cross created a half-chance header for Jones (K), and later the T&T captain only marginally headed over Cyrus’ corner-kick on 25 minutes, despite Panama playing him close attention all match. In first-half injury time, Jones might also have left another Cyrus cross for teammates Cummings and Cordell Cato driving in at the back post, instead of heading the ball into touch.
Panama rarely attacked, but for a brief period midway through the first half, but went ahead when a wild attempted clearance by defender Sheldon Bateau gave Tejada a gift, which he poked past Marvin Phillip.
The breakdown began all the way in midfield where Joevin Jones was lazy and unwilling to get back. Poor T&T transition from attack to defence, also gave Panama another chance in the 40 th minute, with Perez shooting powerfully at Phillip from an acute angle.
After conceding early in the second half, Panama might have retaken the lead soon after, but for a poor shooting effort by Perez, who hit straight at goalkeeper from eight yards. It also took Radanfar Abu Bakr at full stretch to deny a Perez shot, as Panama turned up the pace as conditions got cooler. And in injury-time, Perez also put wide a cross with only keeper Phillip guarding the goal.
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