Panama’s Cristian Martinez put the ball exactly where Jose Fajardo would be most dangerous. All it took was a clever touch and a quick turn for the striker to effortlessly drill the ball past Bolivia’s goalkeeper, bringing 12,933 fans in Orlando to their feet.
“The goal gave me confidence,” Fajardo said. It gave him “more security”.
It also gave Panama its opening goal against Bolivia, setting the pace for what would be a thrilling performance by the Central Americans. With an eventual 3-1 victory against Bolivia, Panama, for the first time, had stamped its ticket to the knockout rounds of a Copa America.
This was a historic night for Panama, one of the biggest surprise packages of the tournament. The win also solidified an end to the United States’ hopes of making another deep run in Copa America. Instead, thanks to Panama’s victory and a 1-0 loss to Uruguay on Monday, the host nation has now exited the competition.
No matter that this historic feat was witnessed by one of the smallest crowds at Copa America this summer, fans filled the stadium with chants of “Panama! Panama!” and “Ole! Ole! Ole!” as they carried their euphoric nation with them.
This is only the second time Panama has featured in the traditionally South American competition, making their debut in 2016. That year, they failed to pass the group stage. Panama and Canada remain the only CONCACAF nations to have qualified for the quarterfinals. Costa Rica, whose chances of advancing are slim, will learn its fate on Tuesday night.
Panama’s Eduardo Guerrero celebrates his side’s victory at full time (Eliecer Aizprua Banfield/Jam Media/Getty Images)
For Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen, his team’s surprising run is exactly what he had hoped for.
“When we were going to leave for the United States, I said I would like to be the surprise (of the tournament), like Morocco in the (2022) World Cup (who made it to the semi-finals),” he told reporters. “Well, at least now we’re through to the next round. I am happy. Super happy.”
Christiansen took the helm of the national team in July 2020, replacing Argentine manager Americo Gallego amid a restructuring in Panamanian football. The Dane has repeatedly told reporters that this successful run at the tournament so far has reflected the progress Panama has made in those four years.
“It’s constant, really, what we have been doing, what we have been reaping in these almost four years,” Christiansen said. “(Is it a) coincidence? I don’t believe in coincidences. You have to work. You have to fight for it. Luck alone isn’t enough.”
That Panama’s win happened at Inter&Co Stadium, forcing the Americans to exit Copa America, may have been just that: a bittersweet, ironic coincidence.
This was, after all, the same pitch where Panama’s campaign to reach the World Cup in Qatar was ended after a 5-1 defeat to the U.S. in March 2022. Back then, an emotional Christiansen exited the pitch, vowing to remain at the helm of his team. On Monday night, the tables reversed.
Panama head coach Christiansen saw his team put ghosts of the past to rest in Orlando (Rich Storry/Getty Images)
Panama’s strength has been evident in the group stage. Despite having lost 3-1 to Uruguay in their opening game, Panama is still the only team to have scored on the tournament favorite. The team’s success is not lost on its players.
Monday’s win “is the result of the hard work we’ve been doing for quite some time,” Martinez said. “I believe today that was reflected in the tournament. I’m happy with the story that we’re writing, and for making it to the quarterfinals.”
Martinez’s assist to Fajardo was the spark Panama needed against Bolivia, which has been the nation to concede the most goals in the competition (10). While the South Americans did not make it easy for Panama, with Bruno Miranda equalizing in the 69th minute, Bolivia were only to keep the game tied for a long 10 minutes.
Christiansen’s decision to bring fresh legs into the match paid off, with both remaining goals scored for Panama coming from players recently subbed in. Eduardo Guerrero scored a diving header just five minutes after entering the match and Cesar Yanis sealed Panama’s victory in the 91st minute just seconds after coming onto the pitch.
“It’s true, we are the surprise of the tournament,” Panama defender Cesar Blackman said following the victory. “No one expected it. We were able to win that game against the United States. Now, we were able to respond well against Bolivia. We eliminated one of the giants.”
“We’re very happy. The team is happy,” he continued. “I believe all of Panama is happy with us and, well, now we have to look towards the quarterfinals.”
That match will likely feature another tournament giant: Colombia or Brazil.
“We know it’s going to be a very difficult game,” Blackman said. “But we came to this Copa America to compete and to continue making history.”
(Top photo: Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images)
Source link : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5610629/2024/07/02/panama-copa-america-bolivia-united-states/
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Publish date : 2024-07-02 08:59:13
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