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VIDEO: SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras - Blas Perez scored a pair of second-half goals and paced Panama to a 2-0 victory against Honduras on Friday, earning a fifth straight World Cup qualifying victory as both teams opened the semifinal round of CONCACAF play.
Perez, who had five goals in the previous round of qualifying, scored in the 64th and 80th minutes as Panama extended its shutout streak to 272 minutes in qualifying.
Honduras, which qualified for the 2010 World Cup, was without injured striker David Suazo, who was hurt in the May 26 loss to New Zealand. It lost for the third time in five matches with only one victory.
Panama, which will return to Panama City on Tuesday to face Cuba, 1-0 losers to Canada earlier Friday, has allowed only one goal at home in its last three qualifiers.
Honduras has lost two straight World Cup qualifiers at home after going unbeaten in 12 straight. It goes to Toronto on Tuesday to play Canada.
