- January, 30 2009 -
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JANUARY 27TH - TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS: Panama celebrated a hard fought victory in overcoming Guatemala 1-0 to advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup and more importantly take the final available spot in the Copa Digicel semi finals line up.
Finishing second in the three team Group B, Panama will now have the onerous task of taking on the undefeated home town side Honduras in the second semi final while Guatemala will fill the opposition spot for Nicaragua in the 5th and 6th placed play off to see which side will take the last remaining qualification to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
With both teams realizing that a win was paramount the sides were cautious and defensive looking to protect what they had and hope for a lucky break.
On 17 minutes the first good chance of the game fell to Panama’s Orlando Rodriguez whose long speculative shot almost caught Jerez off his line but in the end flew harmlessly passed the right hand post to safety.
Despite a fresh lineup and strategy for Guatemala compared to its previous encounter with Costa Rica, it was unable to show any improvement, still being unable to move the ball forward with any real purpose and looking more and more like being the bridesmaid yet again and never the bride.
The first goal for Panama came after half an hour of play when striker Alberto Zapata met an inch perfect Wilson Barahona free kick and side footed a majestic silky touch well beyond the reach of keeper Jerez to make it 1-0 to Panama.
Guatemala came close to evening the score 8 minutes later when Victor Herrera received the ball in front of goal turned and shot but his rushed effort sailed harmlessly high and over Pinedo’s bar
Guatemala did take the game more to Panama in the second half and despite an altercation and player melee which led to sending offs for both teams, one on each side, Panama never looked in any danger of surrendering their advantage and ran out eventual one goal winners in comfortable fashion.
For more information on the Copa de Naciones Digicel, logon to www.digicelfootball.com
Team Lineups
Panamá: 1. Jaime Pinedo, 2. Carlos Rivera, 3. Joel Solanilla, 4. José Torres (13. Adolfo Machado 69’), 5. Manuel Torres, 6. Amilcar Henríquez, 9. Orlando Rodríguez, 10.Wilson Barahona (15.Ricardo Phillipis 62’), 11. Víctor Herrera, 14. Armando Gun, 18. Alberto Zapata (16. Eduardo Jiménez 52’).
Guatemala: 18. Ricardo Jerez, 3. Cristian Noriega, 7. Claudio Albizuris (2. Carlos Castrillo 35’), 10.Gregory Ruiz (19. Edwin Villatoro 76’), 14. Marco Papa, 12. Jonathan Márquez, 14. Edgar Cotto, 15. Edwin Rodríguez, 16. Jaime Vides, 20. Selvin Motta, 17. Mynor López.
Referee: Joel Aguilar Chicas (El Salvador)
POSITIONS TABLE
Group A, DIGICEL Cup
TEAMS GP W D L GS GA PTS
Costa Rica 02 02 00 00 06 01 06
Panamá 02 01 00 01 01 03 03
Guatemala 02 00 00 02 01 04 00
GP: Games Played, W: Wins, D:Ties, L: Losses, GS: Goals Scored, GA: Goals Against
ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the largest wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean with more than six million customers. After seven years, Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications – the company is also a new entrant to the Central American market.
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the largest wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean with more than six million customers. After seven years, Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications – the company is also a new entrant to the Central American market.
Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has operations in 31 markets worldwide. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean and Central American sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team and Special Olympics teams throughout the region. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones Digicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
