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GUATEMALA CITY - Costa Rica climbed within one victory of its second CONCACAF Futsal Championship title and first since 2000, beating Panama 4-1 on Friday to extend its unbeaten streak against its Central American rival to five.
Aaron Jerez converted a seventh-minute penalty and Christopher Molina and Luis Paniagua added second-half goals to stake Costa Rica to a 3-0 lead before Edwin Cubillo tacked on a finale, sending it to a Sunday meeting against defending champion Guatemala.
The win was Costa Rica's third in four matches with one draw at the championship, having outscored its opponents 17-7.
Panama had much of the play and shots until midway through the second half, denied by Costa Rica keeper Jairo Toruno until Fernando Mena scored his first goal with just over nine minutes to play.
Mena had the first dangerous chance of the match after just over half a minute gone, sending a low volley just wide of the left post.
Both sides traded chances until Panama's Carlos Perez pulled Jorge Arias down by the shirt as the Costa Rican stretched to get to a loose ball in the area, resulting in Cuban referee Sergio Cabrera awarding the penalty. Jerez converted with a blast into the roof of the net as keeper Jose Victoria when low to his left.
Panama had much of the play until the second half, including Michael De Leon's shot off the post in the 28th minute.
Less than 10 seconds later, Costa Rica doubled its lead. Arias steered Nestor Cabrera's free kick into the middle of the area where Molina simply volleyed from in front in the 28th minute.
A minute and a half later, Paniagua similarly converted after Cubillo worked his way around Miguel Lasso in the right corner and got off a rolling ball while being knocked to the floor.
Mena looked to rally Panama with a goal in the 31st, dribbling down the left side switching the ball to his right foot and beating Toruna from a meter outside the area by driving a shot just inside the right post.
But Cubillo effectively squelched Panama's rally attempt, rolling in a loose ball after Victoria twice blocked Diego Zuniga in quick succession.
Panama's night was typified in the 38th minute when Victoria sprinted down the left side only to see his right-footed drive crash off the post.
The result marked the second straight time Panama was beaten in the semifinals, having lost to Cuba 4-1 in 2008.
