Panama beats Guatemala to complete UNCAF cup semifinals, advances to Gold Cup

January 28, 2009

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Panama claimed a third straight trip to both the Central American Nations Cup semifinals and the CONCACAF Gold Cup, beating Guatemala 1-0 on Tuesday.

Alberto Zapata scored in the 21st minute and Panama overcame the expulsion of Victor Herrera 18 minutes later, prevailing to earn a knockout match against host Honduras on Friday. Costa Rica will play El Salvador in the first semifinal on Friday.

Guatemala still has a chance to qualify for a seventh straight appearance in the Gold Cup. It will face Nicaragua on Thursday with the winner claiming the last place in the 12-team field. Los Chapines have qualified for every Gold Cup except in 1993.

Panama, which has never won the Copa de Naciones Digicel de UNCAF but lost on penalties to Costa Rica in the 2007 final, qualified for its third straight Gold Cup after missing the previous five. Los Canaleros were beaten on penalties by the United States in the final of the 2005 Gold Cup.

Zapata, who led San Francisco FC with three goals during the CONCACAF Champions League, converted the only goal Panama needed after taking a free kick from Wilson Barahona and directing it past Guatemalan keeper Ricardo Jerez.

Panama joined fellow semifinalists Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador in the Gold Cup. Canada, Mexico, the United States as well as Jamaica, Grenada, Guadeloupe and Cuba already had claimed their places in the 10th Gold Cup field.

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