Panama’s Gabriel Torres (left) fights for the ball with Martinique’s Jacky Berdix (centre) and Jean-Sylvain Babin (right) during their CONCACAF Gold Cup match in Seattle, Washington, on Thursday. (Reuters)
Reuters/Seattle
Gabriel Torres converted an 85th minute penalty to guide Panama into the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Martinique on Thursday, before Mexico beat Canada 2-0 to pick up their first victory of the competition.
Panama top Group A on six points from two games, ahead of Martinique and Mexico on three points apiece with Canada propping up the standings after two straight losses.
Martinique produced a big upset on the opening day of the 12-team competition by beating Canada 1-0 and they again showed levels of skill and organisation well beyond expectations for one of the tournament’s supposed minnows.
Panama were frustrated and created few chances but the game played at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field turned in their favour when Martinique were reduced to 10 men after Jacky Berdix was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 72nd minute.
Five minutes from the end, Panama substitute Jairo Jimenez was brought down inside the box by a reckless Sebastien Cretinoir challenge and Torres squeezed the penalty just past Martinique keeper Kevin Olimpa.
After their opening loss to Panama, six-times Gold Cup winners Mexico could ill-afford another setback and they attacked Canada from the outset in the second match of the Seattle double-header. ‘El Tri’ grabbed the lead in the 42nd minute when Jorge Enriquez’s delightful near post flick on from a Luis Montes corner set up Raul Jimenez for a thundering diving header.
Mexico’s second was controversial though, when Canada defender David Edgar was adjudged to have brought down Marco Fabian when it appeared the Mexican had fallen as he stretched for the ball without any contact.
Fabian converted the penalty and Edgar’s frustration spilled over in the 67th minute when he kicked out at Jimenez and was lucky to escape with just a yellow card. Both teams hit the bar late on with Canada’s Marcel De Jong’s superbly struck 89th minute free-kick finding the woodwork before Javier Orozco’s header rebounded off the frame of the goal a minute later.
Mexico face Martinique in the final round of Group A matches in Denver tomorrow after Canada take on Panama at the same venue. The tournament continues in Miami on Friday with the Group B clashes between Central American rivals Honduras and El Salvador and an all-Caribbean affair as Trinidad and Tobago play Haiti.
Probe into attempt to bribe Belize players
CONCACAF officials say they have identified someone who attempted to bribe two Belize footballers prior to their Gold Cup match against the United States on Tuesday.
In a statement released on Thursday, football’s governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean praised the two players for immediately coming forward to report the attempted offense.
“We want to thank Woodrow West and Ian Gaynair and recognise them for their bravery and commitment to preserving the integrity of our game,” CONCACAF’s statement said.
The two told officials they were approached two days before the contest, which the United States won 6-1. Gaynair scored Belize’s lone goal.
“Following the report by the players, CONCACAF launched a full investigation alongside FIFA,” the statement said. “Initial findings of this investigation have resulted in a positive identification of the individual attempting the bribery.”
CONCACAF offered no further details, but reiterated their commitment to the fight against “match-manipulation”.
“In alignment with FIFA guidelines and with the help of outside entities such as INTERPOL, we have taken all necessary measures to ensure the legitimacy of each game played throughout the 2013 Gold Cup,” CONCACAF said.