ORLANDO, Florida — Still in the race for the final spot in the quarterfinals, Panama is feeling positive about their chances of advancing to the knockout stage of the Concacaf Gold Cup for the ninth consecutive edition.
Panama played Qatar to a 3-3 draw before falling 3-2 to rival Honduras in their first two group matches. Needing a win and a Honduras victory, Panama felt good about taking care of their end of things against Grenada.
“We’re alive,” Panama defender Harold Cummings told Concacaf.com. “We have to do our work with Grenada without thinking about what might happen, but obviously, betting and hoping that Honduras can get a result in their favor.”
In a roller coaster match where Honduras took the early lead, Panama came back and took the lead themselves before halftime. While they didn’t come away with the victory, Cummings points to Panama’s good moments in the match for encouragement.
“I think the way we finished the first half was positive,” said Cummings. “We came back and finished well; we closed the first half well. In the second half, it got complicated for us. Honduras overtook us with their fans, with their people. I think it is also a merit of the rival team. I think we did a good job.”
Panama was well backed with their own supporters in Saturday’s sellout encounter in Houston. With a good Panamanian presence in the stands expected in Orlando, Cummings expressed his team’s desire to reward their fans with a victory, despite what their fate holds after Tuesday night.
“The fans of Panama always support, always,” said Cummings. “We are happy with these supporters. Unfortunately, we could not return that support, that affection that they came to show from so far, so many people. We hope that in the game in Orlando, against Grenada, we can return that love and appreciation.”
