MIAMI, Florida – 2018 FIFA World Cup participant Panama’s quest for a return to football’s biggest stage continues on Saturday when they face Curacao in the first leg of the Second Round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 at the Estadio Nacional Rod Carew in Panama City, Panama.
The Canaleros advanced past the First Round of WCQ with great authority, winning Group D with a perfect 4W-0D-0L record, scoring 19 goals and conceding just one.
Among the players leading the way was Gabriel Torres, who scored four goals and was one of 11 different goalscorers for Panama in the First Round.
Panama are always strong at home in WCQ and have won their last four WCQ while playing on home soil.
Curacao will be a unique challenge in that it will be the first ever meeting between the two nations.
The Caribbean side nosed out Guatemala for first-place in Group C in the First Round, scoring 15 goals and conceding one along the way.
Charlison Benschop provided three goals in the First Round to lead the team, while the likes of Leandro Bacuna and Juninho Bacuna also add plenty of spark to the attack.
