Panama claimed third place in the Kirin Cup by beating Ecuador in a penalty shootout. The match at Tokyo's National Stadium finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with the Canal Men prevailing 7-6 from the spot.
Their recent form shows three draws and two losses from the last five outings.
Debut goal seals it
Josué Vergara, a late call-up to Thomas Christiansen's squad, made an immediate impact by scoring his first senior international goal. The 38th-minute strike came from a Jorge Gutiérrez cross that deflected into his path, and he finished calmly. The Panamanian Football Federation later announced that fans had voted Vergara the match's most valuable player.
Ecuador, managed by Marcelo Gallardo, equalised in the 58th minute through Juan Riquelme Angulo. Goalkeeper Eddie Roberts then became the shootout hero, saving spot-kicks from Anthony Valencia and Juan Angulo. All seven Panamanian takers scored, securing the win.
Milestone for Murillo
The match marked a special milestone for captain Michael Amir Murillo, who earned his 100th cap for his country. The centre-back, a stalwart of the side for years, also converted his penalty in the shootout. For head coach Thomas Christiansen, this was his 95th game in charge.
With this friendly tournament concluded, Panama now turns its focus back to World Cup qualifying. The team will aim for its first points when it travels to face group leaders England, who hold a seven-point advantage.
More detail at La Prensa Panamá
Ecuador's manager, Marcelo Gallardo, highlighted his team's mentality after the penalty shootout defeat to Panama. "I like that this team doesn't like to lose," Gallardo said. The Argentine strategist also confirmed that full-back Pervis Estupiñán suffered a mild knee sprain after a knock. Gallardo ruled out any serious situation. The match result was a 1-1 draw on October 5th, with goals from Josué Vergara and Juan Riquelme Angulo.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho came on in the 64th minute in Ecuador's shoot-out loss to Panama. The French club confirmed the PSG number 51 scored his penalty in the shoot-out. Pacho was one of eleven scorers from the spot in the 1-1 draw on October 5th, which saw players like Josué Vergara and Juan Riquelme Angulo convert.
Striker Josué Vergara picked up an injury during Panama's 1-1 draw with Ecuador on October 5. His Belgian club KAA Gent, which signed the player this year, confirmed it does not yet know the extent of the problem. The 19-year-old scored his first senior international goal in that match. His club stated that losing him would be a significant blow, as he is their first-choice striker. Vergara already has four goals in 13 games for the Pro League side.
