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VIDEO: By Gavin Day
PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Rolando Blackburn and Blas Perez scored one goal each as Panama regained control of Group C in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying with a 2-0 win over Canada at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez on Tuesday night.
The first-place Panamanians now have nine points after four games, while Canada remains on seven.
The game was delayed for nearly 15 minutes shortly after kick off, when a bank of lights went out in the stadium's north end. Prior to that, Panama had dominated possession in the early going and it looked as though a goal was imminent.
Once the lighting issue was resolved, Canada got the first quality chance. A Marcel de Jong effort in the 24th minute from a tight left-sided angle flashed across the goalmouth wide.
Panama quickly countered and the active Alberto Quintero deftly eluded an attempted tackle by David Edgar. He then struck a right-footed shot just inside the 18-yard box that Canadian goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld did well to dive to his left and punch away.
It seemed to be inevitable, though, that Panama would find a breakthrough and, in the 38th minute, it did.
The Canaleros delivered a corner kick from the right side that a leaping Blackburn headed a ball just inside the left post.
Canada searched for an equalizer, but it didn't take long for the things to return to the status quo.
In the 57th minute, the host got the needed insurance goal. This time, Quintero raced around a sliding Edgar on the left side and sprinted toward the Canadian net. Hirschfeld rushed out to cut down the angle, but Quintero cut the ball back to Perez, who beat the Canadian defense to convert from close range.
Panama completes its third-round qualifying schedule by hosting Honduras on October 12, before traveling to Cuba four days later. Canada will welcome Cuba to Toronto and, then, face a daunting visit to Honduras on the same dates.
