Cox, Marcano, give Puerto Rico first win in Group B

SAN DIEGO, California – Playing for all or nothing, Puerto Rico and Panama faced each other for the first time in history at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego California on Saturday evening, Las Boricuas getting a 2-1 win, positioning themselves in third place of Group B.

Panama, the team that stunned the world at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup started on high, with MF Marta Cox taking a shot from the distance in the 22’, looking to give her team their first goal in the tournament as she did in Australia, her efforts ending in a corner kick.

They kept their momentum going and from a great counterattack play, DF Carina Baltrip assisted MF Natalia Mills in the 27’ from the right side of the pitch, the Captain getting past the defensive line, including star GK Sydney Martinez, shooting for the first goal of Panama in the W Gold Cup.

Baltrip saw the back of the net in the 57’, however, it was called offside due to the previous position of DF Hilary Jaen, the Canaleras only up by one goal still.

Puerto Rico didn’t stop fighting, finding an equalizer in the 73’ thanks to the efforts of Madison Cox, who got her header into the back of the net from a corner kick.

Las Boricuas showed resilience as they did in the Prelims finding a late goal in the 90’+3’ from an open play, a brilliant filtered pass from MF Kennedy Garcia to MF Danielle Julia Marcano, who got past Panama’s defensive line, shooting for their second goal, giving Puerto Rico their first win in the W Gold Cup.