PARAMARIBO, Suriname – The Final Round of the Concacaf Qualifiers to the 2026 FIFA World Cup got underway with Suriname and Panama drawing nil-nil in Group A at Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in Paramaribo, Suriname.
Gyrano Kerk had an attempt for Suriname inside the six-yard box in the 2’, but the ball was high above the crossbar.
Adalberto Carrasquilla came close to handing Panama the lead in the 11’, but his strike from outside the box was met by a save from Suriname goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen.
Jorge Gutiérrez had another chance for Panama in the 20’, with an attempt from the left end of the box that was just wide left.
Cristian Martínez took his chance for Panama in the 41’, but his finish from inside the box was cleared off the line by Suriname defender Djevenecio van der Kust.
The second half started with Denzel Jubitana close to finding the go-ahead goal for the hosts in the 54’, but his shot from the edge of the box bounced off the crossbar.
Panama then produced two dangerous opportunities. First, Ismael Díaz hit the left post in the 69’ with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, followed by a finish from Andrés Andrade in the 72’ from inside the box that was high above the goal.
Kerk came close for Suriname in the 77’ with a shot from a tight angle from the left flank, but the attempt was ultimately cleared off the line by Panama captain Aníbal Godoy.
Both goalkeepers traded heroic saves in the final minutes to keep the match scoreless. Vaessen denied a thumping header from José Fajardo in the 86’, while Panama’s Orlando Mosquera saved a headed attempt from van der Kust in the 90’+8’.
Vaessen concluded with three saves and Mosquera posted two saves, as both goalkeepers started the Final Round with a clean sheet.
Both teams will carry on with their campaigns on Monday, when Suriname visits El Salvador and Panama hosts Guatemala.
