Christensen’s Panama debuts with victory

With goals from Ismael Díaz and Cecilio Waterman, the selection of Panama beat this Thursday by 2-0 to Costa Rica in the first day of group B of the Concacaf Nations League. In minute 3, Costa Rica had the first danger in a shot by Daniel Chacón that crashed into the crossbar of the Panamanian goal defended by Luis Mejía.

The duel was carried out according to the rhythm of Costa Rica, at minute 16 Anthony Contreras escaped, took a cross, Ricardo Blanco finished off, but Cristian Martínez saved the Panamanian goal.

The locals had the option to open the scoring in the 28th minute, in a center by Michael Amir Murillo in which Waterman scored the ball, but without directing it to the goal. Later, in a corner kick taken directly to the goal, the ball hit the Costa Rican crossbar.

In the second half, a better Panama was seen. At minute 47, José Luis Rodríguez escaped from the right, centered the ball, but no one came to push the ball.

At 52 minutes, Alberto Quintero stepped into the area, took a center with which Ismael Díaz from the right beat Moreira and put the 1-0 on the board. The second goal came in the 76th. On an Eric Davis corner, Roderick Miller dropped the ball, Diaz finished and Waterman only touched the ball to celebrate again.

DATASHEET

2 – Panama: Luis Mejia; Roderick Miller, Michael Murillo, Fidel Escobar, Eric Davis; Cristian Martínez (m.64, Aníbal Godoy), José Rodríguez (m.64, Freddy Góndola), Adalberto Carrasquilla, Alberto Quintero (m.77, César Yanis); Ismael Díaz (m.84, Edgar Yoel Bárcenas), Cecilio Waterman (m.77, Gabriel Torres).
Coach: Thomas Christiansen.
0 – Costa Rica: Leonel Moreira; Ricardo Blanco, Kendall Waston, Juan Pablo Vargas, Bryan Oviedo; Jewison Bennette (m.60, Allen Guevara), Daniel Chacón, Orlando Galo (m.79, Roan Wilson); Brandon Aguilera (m.60, Gerson Torres), Carlos Mora (m.59, John Venegas) and Anthony Contreras (m.73, Joel Campbell).
Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez.
Referee: The Mexican Fernando Hernández admonished the Panamanians Albert Quintero and Adalberto Carrasquilla.
Goals: 1-0, Ishmael Diaz (m. 52); 2-0, Cecilia Waterman (m. 76)
Incidences: Group B match of League A of the Concacaf Nations League played at the Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez Stadium, in the Panamanian capital.