Second-half goals from Jose Fajardo and Michael Amir Murillo led Panama to a 2-1 win over Martinique on Friday in Group C play at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Harrison, N.J.
Panama (2-0-0, 6 points) clinched a quarterfinal berth later Friday night when El Salvador (0-1-1, 1 point) and Costa Rica (0-1-1, 1 point) played to a scoreless draw. The Canal Men would finish atop the group if they beat El Salvador on Sunday in Houston.
Martinique (1-1-0, 3 points) would advance with a victory over Costa Rica on Sunday in Harrison.
The game’s first goal came in the 57th minute. Panama’s Eric Davis delivered a cross from the left flank, and an unmarked Fajardo headed it in.
Twelve minutes later, Panama doubled the advantage. Alberto Quintero chipped the ball over the Martinique defense, and Murillo knocked a right-footed shot over the head of goalie Theo De Percin.
Karl Fabien got a consolation goal for Martinique in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.
In the late game at Harrison, El Salvador goalie Mario Gonzalez made three saves and Costa Rica’s Kevin Chamorro stopped two shots as the teams failed to score. Costa Rica had 52.4 percent of the ball possession and a 12-9 edge in total shots.
–Field Level Media
