Action from the World Cup qualifier between host Panama (red jersey) and Mexico on November 15, 2016, in Panama City. (Photo: Luis Licona/Straffon Images)
PANAMA CITY, Panama – Panama (1W-01D-0L, 4 points) and Mexico (1-1-0, 4) battled to a 0-0 stalemate in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday night at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez.
The draw dropped the sides into a tie for second-place, two points behind table-topping Costa Rica (2-0-0, 6), which earned a 4-0 win over the visiting United States (0-0-2, 0).
The Panamanians – playing without key defender Felipe Baloy, who was suspended -- posted a fifth clean sheet in their last six qualifiers, while Mexico was shutout for the second time in its last three outings for Russia 2018.
World Cup Qualifying resumes for both on March 24, with Panama facing host Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico hosting Costa Rica.
