- February, 19 2007 -
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Goalkeeper Porras the hero as Los Ticos beat Panama on penaltiesTuesday, February 13, 2007 – Cuscatlán Stadium, El Salvador: Costa Rica retained their Copa de Naciones Digicel crown after a penalty shoot-out in a pulsating final at San Salvador’s Cuscatlan Stadium. Los Ticos, trailing 1-0 with only five minutes left on the clock, broke Panama’s hearts by grabbing a late equaliser before going on to win 4-1 in the penalty shoot-out.
Underdogs Panama opened the match strongly, putting holders Costa Rica under pressure and going close twice in the opening 10 minutes. Luis Tejada’s strike was turned round the post by Porras after only 8 minutes before the pacy Philips fired just wide a minute later. After weathering the early storm, Costa Rica came back into the game with a couple of long range strikes from Barrantes comfortably held by Penedo before Panama regained the ascendancy and took the lead on 36 minutes. Philips had forced a fine save from Porras moments before drilling a low angled cross that evaded everyone in the penalty area until it reached Tejada who hammered home the opening goal at the far post.
The second period opened with the holders pressing for a levelling score. Solis’ free-kick on 52 minutes was beaten away by Penedo and on 57 minutes Solis was the danger man again, Penedo touching his shot from the edge of the area, which swerved viciously in the strong wind, onto the upright. With Costa Rica unable to find the breakthrough, Panama began to threaten but found Porras in imposing form. Substitute Arosemena’s angled shot was turned round the post by the big ‘keeper on 70 minutes with an even better save to follow on 77 minutes when Philips’ powerful shot seemed destined for the corner of net until Porras’ fingertips intervened.
Costa Rica seemed to be running out of ideas with Panama defending comfortably until the equaliser came on 85 minutes. A hopeful long ball into the box was not properly cleared and fell to substitute Bernard who turned to fire home and spark wild celebrations on the bench and amongst the sizeable contingent of travelling fans.
With few chances in the remaining 5 minutes, the game went to penalties where Digicel Man of the Match Jose Porras was the dominant figure. The ‘keeper expertly turned away Panama’s opening two penalties from captain Baloy and substitute Herrera leaving Costa Rica with a 3-1 penalty lead when Michael Barrantes stepped up to hammer home the winning penalty and bring the Copa Digicel back to San Jose.
Panama can consider themselves unfortunate to have lost another major trophy on penalties, having lost to the USA in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, after enjoying much of the play but Hernan Medford’s side proved once again that Costa Rica can never been written off. On tonight’s performance, which produced a game worthy of any final, both sides will be very competitive in the 2007 Gold Cup in the USA in June.
Panama: Jamie Pendo, Carlos Rivera, Jose Torres, Roman Torres, Juan Perez, Alberto Blanco, Ricardo Philips (Rolando Escobar), Luis Tejada (Reggie Arosemena), Engin Mitre (Victor Herrera), Amilcar Heriquez, Felipe Baloy
Costa Rica: Jose Porras, Jervis Drummond, Victor Cordero (Felix Montoya), Michael Umana, Michael Barrantes, Rolando Fonceca, Alonso Solis (Kurt Bernard), Walter Centeno, Rodolfo Rodriguez (Carlos Hernandez), Harold Wallace,
