CHITRE, Panama – In an evening of high drama, Maria Paula Salas converted a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time and Costa Rica earned a 1-0 win over host Panama on Saturday to qualify for the 2018 CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship.

Both sides entered the match on the last day of Central American qualifying with perfect 2W-0D-0L records, knowing that only one would secure a place in the CONCACAF event slated to take place in Nicaragua next year.

With the victory, Costa Rica finished atop the four-team table, scoring 10 goals and conceding none in three games.

The 2018 CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship participants are: Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United States.

CONCACAF.com summaries the action from the Estadio Los Milagros.

2017 CENTRAL AMERICAN UNDER-17 WOMEN’S QUALIFYING

Estadio Los Milagros -- Chitre, Panama

October 24-28, 2017

(Games Played-Wins-Draw-Losses-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Costa Rica 3-3-0-0-10-0-9

Panama 3-2-0-1-7-1-6

El Salvador 3-1-0-2-1-7-3

Honduras 3-0-0-3-0-10-0

October 24, 2017

El Salvador 0, Costa Rica 5

Priscila Chinchilla 7’, 63’; Medolyn Guerrero 21’; Maria Paula Salas 49’ pen; Pamela Gutierrez 67’

Panama 5, Honduras 0

Rosario Vargas 4’; Anuvis Angulo 18’, 61’, 84’; Yasli Atencio 30’

October 26, 2017

Costa Rica 4, Honduras 0

Priscila Chinchilla 8’; Maria Paula Salas 25’ pen; Daniela Contreras 29’; Medolyn Guerrero 31’

Panama 2, El Salvador 0

Anuvis Angulo 39’; 67’

October 28, 2017

Honduras 0, El Salvador 1

Lesly Calderon 78’

- In a match pitting two teams previously eliminated from contention, El Salvador earned a third-place finish thanks to a 1-0 win over Honduras.

- Lesly Calderon struck for the game-winning goal in the 78th minute.

- Panama’s Anuvis Angulo finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.

Panama 0, Costa Rica 1

Maria Paula Salas 90’+3 pen

- In second-half stoppage time,.Medolyn Guerrero was fouled in the penalty area and Maria Paula Salas (90’+3) successfully struck from the spot to give Costa Rica a 1-0 win over Panama.

- Salas was the only player in Central American qualifying to score in each of her team’s three games, all by penalty kick.

- Costa Rica will appear in its fourth CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship, the most of any Central American team.