E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - With the 68,123 at Giants Stadium still abuzz following Honduras' stunning and dramatic upset win over Mexico, Panama stepped onto the field fully aware of its situation Sunday. A win over Cuba would put the 2005 finalists into the Gold Cup quarterfinals and put them in the driver's seat to win Group C.
All Panama would need was a successful penalty kick by Panamanian captain Felipe Baloy in the 90th minute. But Baloy, who was taken down by Cuban goalkeeper Odelin Molina, missed wildly over the crossbar as Cuba rallied for a 2-2 draw that makes the race for advancement out of Group C wide open going into Wednesday's final matchday.
Panama leads the group with four points, but faces four-time Gold Cup champion Mexico at Reliant Stadium in Houston Wednesday night. Struggling Mexico and Honduras each have three points while Cuba, which earned just its fifth point in 12 Gold Cup matches all-time, would need to beat Honduras to stay alive.
Panama took the initiative in the 16th minute when Jose Luis Garces took Blas Perez's pass, fended off Cuban defender Yenier Marquez and fired a right-footed shot past Molina to take the 1-0 lead. It was Garces' second goal of the tournament.
But Cuba, which had a 1-0 lead against Mexico before succumbing 2-1 Friday night, leveled in the 29th minute as Jaime Colome's free kick from 20 yards out beat Panamanian 'keeper Jaime Penedo, who got a late touch on the ball.
Perez, the Man of the Match against Honduras Friday night and again Sunday, put Panama in front 2-1 just 47 seconds into the second half. With the ball at his feet, Marquez fell in his defensive third and Perez pounced on the mistake, taking the ball towards goal and beating Molina with a low, hard shot from 14 yards out as Panama regained control of the match.
Roman Torres could have put the match away in the 57th minute, but his blast from 20 yards out missed the mark to the left of Molina.
But Cuba, which has just one win in its Gold Cup history - a 2-0 win over Canada in 2003 - continued to attack. A misplayed ball by a Panamanian defender nearly resulted in a Cuban equalizer on the hour mark as Pedro Adriani Faife fed Reynier Alcantara inside the 18-yard box, but his chip sailed over the net. Moments later Alcantara had another chance, but he headed the ball over the crossbar.
Perez, a striker from Cucuta Deportivo in Colombia, came back for Panama, cutting inside of a Cuban defender, but his shot from 14 yards out was saved by Molina in the 67th minute,
Another slip in concentration nearly cost Panama when Alcantara headed Luis Moreno's touch in the box onto the top netting in the 73rd minute.
Alcantara's diligence finally paid off in the 78th minute. On a gorgeous buildup, the ball was laid off to Colome, who chipped to the right of Molina. That's where Alcantara struck, his brilliant first-time left-footed volley was his second goal of the tournament and tied the game at 2-2.
The game appeared to be heading to a stalemate when Molina took down Baloy, who rounded the 'keeper to his left. After a brief hesitation, Trinidadian referee Lee Davis pointed to the penalty spot and booked Molina. But Baloy badly missed from the spot and was berated by several Cuban players who surrounded him.
Tempers flared in stoppage time with a midfield scuffle, but neither team would get another scoring chance. And when Davis blew his whistle for full time, it also sounded the alarm for what should be a wild Wednesday in Houston.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
