
Honduras beats Panama in shootout to reach Gold Cup semifinals
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Carlos Pineda scored the decisive penalty shot as Honduras upset Panama in a shootout after the teams played to a 1-1 draw in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals on Saturday night.
Honduras, which finished second to Canada in Group B stage play, advanced to the semifinals on Wednesday in Santa Clara, Calif., where it will face the winner of Saudi Arabia and Mexico. It’s the first time Honduras has made the Gold Cup semis since 2013.
Honduras struggled to generate many scoring opportunities until coming alive late in the second half. Los Catrachos evened the scored in the 82nd minute when Anthony Lozano deflected a shot from Carlos Pineda into the corner of the net following a corner kick.
Both teams made four out of five shots in the initial round of kicks. Honduras had a chance to win with its fifth attempt, but Orlando Mosquera made a diving stop on Lozano’s shot.