For the minimum. The Mexican team defeated Panama 0-1 thanks to an own goal in the 93rd minute, in a friendly match played outside of FIFA dates, marked by the dominance of the “Tri” and the solid defensive resistance of the “Canalero” team.
The low-level match at the Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez Stadium, in the Panamanian capital, began with a Mexican team putting high pressure on Panama’s exit, which opted to retreat into its own field and look for a counterattack with long balls aimed at Kadir Barría.
Although Mexico maintained the initiative during the first minutes, the first dangerous action was for the Panamanians. At minute 9, Giovany Herbert tried with a long-distance shot that passed near the goal defended by José “Tala” Rangel.
After that arrival, the “Tricolor” once again took control of the ball, but did not clearly manage to cause concern until the 34th minute, when Brian Gutiérrez took a free kick that meant the first shot on goal for the locals.
The clearest chance of the first half was again for Mexico. In the 42nd minute, the Mexican-American Richard Ledezma sent a cross that the Argentine nationalized Mexican Germán Berterame connected with a header, although the ball went wide, to the relief of the host team.
The second part of the “match” maintained the same script, with the Mexico squad maintaining possession and Panama resisting in its field.
Berterame warned in the 54th minute with a shot that went wide, and in the 61st minute Kevin Castañeda had a clear option in front of the goal, but goalkeeper Gunn prevented the goal with a good intervention.
The Panama team barely managed to create danger and their first shot of the complement came in the 64th minute, with an attempt by Ángel Caicedo.
In the final minutes, Mexico intensified its pressure. In the 89th minute, Armando “La Hormiga” González again demanded goalkeeper Gunn with a header that the local goalkeeper deflected over the crossbar.
When it seemed that the tie was sealed, the visiting team’s winning goal came in added time.
At minute 93, a good combination between left winger Jesús Gallardo, González and Castañeda ended with a cross into the six-yard box and a clumsy own goal by Central American defender Richard Peralta who put the ball into his own box. 0-1 for the Mexican team, thus breaking a streak of several games without a win.
This is how they aligned
– Panama (0): J.D. Gunn; Richard Peralta, Omar Córdoba (m.80 Luis Asprilla), Kevin Galvan, Daniel Aparicio; Héctor Hurtado (m.66 Abdul Knight), Ariel Arroyo (m.45 Javier Rivera), Giovany Herbert (m.73 Kahiser Lenis), Ricardo Phillips Jr (m.45 Ángel Caicedo), José Murillo: Kadir Barría (m.66 Gustavo Herrera).
– Selector: Thomas Christiansen.
– Mexico (1): José Rangel; Víctor Guzmán, Bryan González (m.85 Jesús Gallardo), Eduardo Águila; Richard Ledezma, Obed Vargas (d.57 Carlos Rodríguez), Marcel Ruiz (d.66 Armando González), Luis Romo; Roberto Alvarado (m57: Alexis Gutiérrez), Brian Gutiérrez (m357 Kevin Castañeda) and Germán Berterame (m.67 Erik Lira).
– Selector: Javier “Vasco” Aguirre.
– Referee: The American Guido González admonished the Panamanian Aparicio and the Mexicans Romo and Castañeda.
– Goal: 0-1, m.93: Richard Peralta (own goal).
– Incidents: Off-date FIFA friendly match played at the Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez Stadium, in the Panamanian capital.
