Panama 2 - Honduras 2

Tegucigalpa was the site for the second successive home qualifier for Honduras.  Panama may have been unhappy with the venue change, having won in San Pedro Sula during the previous round of qualifying.  Panama were the brighter team early on, but Honduras caught them on the counter.  Brayan Beckeles hit a cross too close to Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, but Penedo let the ball through his hands, and Carlo Costly (pictured, white) was there to tap in for the goal.  The Catrachos led 1-0 at halftime.

Panama scored what could easily be deemed the best goal of the entire tournament to equalize.  Jairo Jimenez moseyed up the left side of the pitch.  His cross was well short of the near post, but wonderman Gabriel Torres flicked the ball inside-out with his right foot swinging over the head of Victor Bernardez.  Somehow, Torres got the ball to dip up and over a well-positioned goalkeeper for the best goal of the night.  On any other night, Wilson Palacios's goal would have been the goal of the night.  He took a heavy pass from Roger Espinoza and killed it in the Panama box.  Then, Palacios nutmegged Felipe Baloy without any momentum going forward before finishing in the space which he had created for himself, giving Honduras a 2-1 lead.  Panama were desperately pressing for the equalizer.  Alcibiades Rojas played a perfect ball for Blas Perez to head goalward, but Perez missed from close range.  Later Amilcar Henriquez hit a bouncer from a Perez header back upfield from the end line that just failed to dip under the crossbar.  Just when it seemed the comeback bid would fall short, Panama struck again.  A Luis Henriquez cross was ever so slightly brushed by the foot of Perez, but the ball hit the shin of an onrushing Panama centerback Roberto Chen (pictured, red) and flew into the net to even the score.  Panama and Honduras tie 2-2.  With the results of tonight's three matches in CONCACAF qualifying, both the United States of America and Costa Rica have clinched spots at Brasil 2014.

USA 16 pts IN
Costa Rica 15 pts IN
Honduras 11 pts 0
Panama 8 pts -2
Mexico 8 pts -2
Jamaica 3 pts -6

Goals
Honduras
Carlo Costly 27
Wilson Palacios 61

Panama
Gabriel Torres 50
Roberto Chen 90

Match Reports:
http://www.7msport.com/video/20130912/6324.shtml

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES69fH23UxU