HOUSTON, Texas – Panama and El Salvador played to a 2-2 draw in Group C of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup group stage on Tuesday night at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Panama clinches the top of Group C with the result and will face Qatar in the quarterfinals on Saturday. El Salvador is eliminated, as the Costa Rica victory over Martinique forced the Cuscatlecos to have to win by at least two goals.
Brayan Gil opened the scoring in the fourth minute off a long pass from goalkeeper Mario Gonzalez to put El Salvador up early 1-0. Gil outran the Panamanian defense for a right-footed attempt that would result in his first international goal.
Fidel Escobar leveled things for Panama in the 26’, notching a first Gold Cup goal for the defender. The play originated from a corner and, after the ball was punched out by Gonzalez, Ismael Diaz recovered the ball to put it in the box as Escobar delivered with a header.
Diaz connected on the other end with Freddy Gondola in the 40’ but the ball was just off the frame as the match continued in a stalemate into halftime.
Panama posed danger at the start of the second half with a few opportunities from corners. Roderick Miller was the target man in the air, but his attempts were evaded by El Salvador.
The teams traded chances, with Gil having a good look on goal after a run into the box in the 58’ with an attempt that was just wide of the mark, while Panama’s Edgar Barcenas attempted a long-range shot in the 68’ that also sailed wide.
Diaz would strike though in the 71’ to hand a 2-1 lead to Panama on a right-footed shot. It marked a second Gold Cup goal for the 26-year-old forward and first since the 2017 edition.
At the stroke of the 90’, Mayer Gil found the back of the net for El Salvador to equalize, 2-2.
