Late goal sends Panama to maiden World Cup, US out
A late goal from Roman Torres punched Panama’s ticket to their first World Cup finals on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Costa Rica, while the United States will miss out for the first time since 1986 after Honduras pipped them to a playoff place.
With Honduras stunning group winners Mexico 3-2, the United States’ 2-1 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago saw them finish fifth in the six-team North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) final qualifying round.
Romell Quioto scored the winner in the 60th minute for Honduras, who will now face Australia in a two-leg playoff in November for another ticket to Russia.