US, Panama reach CONCACAF semi-finals

WASHINGTON, June 20 (AFP): Panama booked their CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final berth in dramatic style Sunday, beating El Salvador 5-3 on penalties after Luis Tejada equalized in the 90th minute.

Panama lined up another match against their Group C rivals the United States, who had second-half goals from Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey in a 2-0 victory over Jamaica in the quarter-finals of the regional championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean.

In the second match of the day's double-header at RFK Stadium, Tejada's 90th minute strike answered the penalty converted by Rodolfo Zelaya in the 78th for El Salvador.

Tejada converted in the penalty shoot-out, making the clinching shot after Nelson Barahona, Luis Renteria, Anibal Godoy and Amilcar Henriquez converted.

Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo stopped the first penalty he faced in the decider, from El Salvador's Dennis Alas.

"If things don't go your way in terms of soccer, you have to look for other ways to reach your goals," Panama coach Julio Dely Valdes said. "We have gotten a result in a way we're not used to.

"I think Panama never stopped fighting, and that's how we reached the goal, which is the most important thing going forward."

Both coaches were unhappy with some of the referee's calls.

Tejada's goal in the last minute of regular time first appeared to have been saved by El Salvador keeper Miguel Montes, but he was in the net and it was determined the ball crossed the goal line.

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Panama in semis

Washington, June 20 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? Panama scored in the 90th minute to tie the game and went on to beat El Salvador 5-3 on penalties on Sunday, earning a place in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup against the United States.

With the teams locked at 1-1 after extra time, Panama converted all five penalties they attempted and El Salvador missed their first spot kick from substitute Dennis Alas.

El Salvador opened the scoring in the 78th minute when striker Rodolfo Zelaya, who missed a penalty attempt in the first half, converted a second penalty attempt after he was brought down by defender Roman Torres.

El Salvador looked certain to hang on and advance to the semi-finals for the first time until Panama evened the score after a late goal-mouth scramble.

From close-range, Luis Tejada got a header that was ruled to have crossed the line. Tejada also converted the decisive spot kick in the shootout.

Panama will now play the U.S. Wednesday's in Houston after the Americans beat Jamaica 2-0 in the earlier quarter-final at RFK Stadium in Washington DC. [ID:nN1E75I08N]

The U.S. defeated Panama on penalties in the 2005 final final but Panama beat the host-nation in the group stages last week to raise hopes of another win this week.

The other semi-final will be played between Mexico and Honduras.

The eventual winner of the tournament will represent North and Central America and the Caribbean at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.

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