ORLANDO — Still alive in the race for a place in the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals, Panama faces a must-win scenario against Grenada in the Group D finale at Exploria Stadium in Orlando.
Panama is participating in its 10th Gold Cup and is looking to advance to the knockout stage for a ninth consecutive occasion. The only time it failed to advance was in its first tournament appearance in 1993.
Panama certainly has the firepower to get there with both Rolando Blackburn and Eric Davis among the tournament top scorers with two goals apiece. The Panama attack has generated five total goals through their two group matches.
Defensively, Panama coach Thomas Christiansen wants to see better possession of the ball. If the team is able to keep more of it, he says, Panama will flourish.
“By not having possession, we suffered many complicated losses,” said Christiansen after the defeat to Honduras.
Still, Panama's path towards advancing isn't straightforward. Even with a win, Panama could be out of the Gold Cup if Qatar draws or win against Honduras. If Honduras was to win, Panama would join the team in the knockout round with a victory in its final group match.
Grenada, while eliminated from advancing, has plenty to play for as well. A win or draw would be a first for the Caribbean nation.
Participating in its third Gold Cup, Grenada wants to leave by leaving the best impression possible. It also wants to make it a habit of being present in the tournament just as its counterparts have done.
“We are pleased to be able to get these opportunities and we look forward to them continuing,” Grenada head coach Michael Findlay said. “We're also hoping is that our reputation as a footballing group has risen.”
The Spice Boys are also looking for their second goal in the competition. The last Grenada goal came from Clive Murray against Honduras in the group stage on June 10, 2011.
This will be the first time Grenada and Panama have faced off in the Gold Cup.
