Familiar foes Mexico, Panama to collide again in semifinals

MIAMI, Florida – Familiar foes Mexico and Panama will once again square off as they collide in the semifinals of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League Finals on Thursday evening at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

These two sides have gotten to know each other quite well over the last year. Last June at the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League Finals, El Tricolor edged the Canaleros 1-0 in the Third-Place Match. A month later, Mexico captured the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup crown by defeating Panama by the same 1-0 scoreline.

Set to meet for the third time in the last 12 months, Panama will hope that the third time is indeed a charm. The Central American side were superb in the group stage by posting a first-place finish with a 3W-1D-0L record in Group A and then taking down regional rivals Costa Rica 6-1 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.

Jose Fajardo is in great form after scoring in each leg against Costa Rica, giving him three goals in the 2023-24 CNL. Like always, MF Adalberto Carrasquilla has been excellent.

The 2023 Gold Cup Best Player Award winner had a goal and an assist in the group stage and then followed that up with two assists against the Ticos.

GK Orlando Mosquera will need to be at his best as well. The shot-stopper registered five saves in the quarterfinals and recorded a clean sheet in a 3-0 group stage win against Guatemala.

Mexico are in pursuit of their first ever CNL crown and will need to extend their unbeaten streak against Panama to keep the dream alive. El Tricolor are 12W-2D-0L in their last 14 matches against the Canaleros.

Edson Alvarez came up big for Mexico in the quarterfinals against Honduras, scoring in the final moments of second half stoppage time to earn Mexico a 2-0 win in the second leg, ultimately forcing a penalty shootout that Mexico won after a 2-2 draw on aggregate.

Alvarez led the team in passes over the two legs against Honduras with 165, while star FW Hirving Lozano, who has two career CNL goals, took eight shots.

FW Santiago Gimenez could prove to be a difference-maker in this one. The young striker came off the bench and scored the winning goal against Panama in the 2023 Gold Cup Final. He also had an assist in the quarterfinals.

Match Officials Panama vs Mexico

REF:      WALTER LOPEZ (Guatemala)

AR1:     KEYTZEL CORRALES (Nicaragua)

AR2:      RAYMUNDO FELIZ (Dominican Republic)

4TH:      JULIO LUNA (Guatemala)

VAR:     BENJAMIN PINEDA (Costa Rica)

VAR1:    TRISTLEY BASSUE (Saint Kitts and Nevis)