US, Panama qualify for World Cup

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

The United States and Panama booked their place in this summer's FIFA Under-17 World Cup yesterday afternoon, after registering contrasting wins in their CONCACAF Under-17 quarter-finals at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James.

Tournament favourites the United States were pushed to the limit by El Salvador before coming away with a 3-2 extra-time win, in an epic battle that saw three players being red-carded.

Regulation time play ended with the score locked at 1-1.

In their game, which was played under the blazing heat of the midday sun, Panama created history when they surprised Costa Rica 1-0 to qualify for a FIFA Under-17 World Cup for the very first time.

In the feature game, the Wilmer Cabrera-coached United States got their goals through Andrew Oliver, Mario Rodrigues Jnr and Marc Pelosi. Jose Pena and Gerardo Iraheta (penalty) scored for El Salvador.

"I am extremely happy for the kids ... this is what they came here for and they got it," said an elated Cabrera. "It was a very tough game, but we did what we had to do, we are all happy."

BRISK START

The United States got off to a brisk start and took the lead in the fifth minute. Oliver pounced a cross from Alejandro Guido and nodded home powerfully, making the score 1-0.

El Salvador stormed back strongly and got their reward in the 10th minute. The alert Pena attacked a cross inside the goal area and fired home a grounder, making the half-time score 1-1.

With both teams playing well but not putting away the chances they created, the second half produced good end-to-end action but no goals, forcing the game into extra time.

Five minutes into the first period of extra time the United States regained the lead. Rodrigues met a superb crossed before the goal and side-footed beautifully past the goalkeeper, to end the first period of extra time 2-1.

The United States went further ahead in the second period of extra time, which turned out to be quite contentious. Pelosi was the scorer, making it 3-1 when he flicked home a superb cross from Guido.

With El Salvador battling back strong, the United States were reduced to 10 men after Kellyn Perry-Acosta was red-carded for rough play.

Shortly after, El Salvador were awarded a penalty in an incident in which both the United States goalkeeper Fernando Pina and El Salvador's Pena were red-carded. Iratheta converted the penalty for El Salvador, making the final score 3-2.

In the opening game, Panama turned in a resilient performance and then snatched victory, courtesy of a well-taken goal by Alfredo Stephens.

"This is historic moment for Panama ... words cannot describe our happiness," said their coach, Jorge Dely Valdes. "We put a lot of work into our preparation and we came here believing and now we have done it ... this is so great for Panama."

After enjoying the better of the first half and looking rather ominous at the start of the second, Panama got the all-important goal in the 77th minute. On a break on the left side of the goal, Stephens squeezed between two defenders and fired in a neat grounder to give his team the lead.

"This is second time we are qualifying for a FIFA tournament and we're absolutely delighted," said Panama defender Francisco Narbon. "We qualified for the Under-20 World Cup in 2007, but this the first time we are qualifying at the Under-17 level."