Costa Rica’s Male National Soccer Team earned its ticket to the Russia World Cup 2018 last Saturday when it played Honduras to a tie; today’s match against Panama was a mandatory game that would, along with the matches between the US vs. Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico (already classified) vs. Honduras, define the third team to classify to the World Cup and the one that would get a shot at repechage.

“La Sele” de Costa Rica, traveled to Panama this Monday without its main goalkeeper Keylor Navas; for this game head coach Oscar Ramírez came in with several changes in the lineup, with the clear objective of trying different players in the field.

The first 45 minutes of the game Costa Rica had good control of the game, Panama was pressing but without much success. The scored opened at minute 35’ with a goal by Costa Rican striker Johan Venegas.

The second half came and along with it controversy. At minute 52’ the referee marked as valid a goal that never existed, the ball was close but never passed the goal line as Costa Rican Ronald Matarrita stopped it right before the line, however, the referee saw it as a valid goal and with it the game was tied and the faith of the United States was also on the line.

This action marked the disconnection of the Costa Rica National Team that played from hereon in a much disorganized fashion, constantly losing control of the ball and making evident mistakes.

The second goal for Panama came at minute 88’ by Roman Torres enabled by a mistake from the Costa Rican defense and goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton.

This marked the qualification of Panama for the first time ever to a World Cup, and after this goal the balls disappeared from the field, the stadium went crazy and out of control, a lady managed to access the field and lay there for a few seconds, finally with one last play and no make up time the referee called the end of the game.

When it comes to the rest of the games, the United States Male National Soccer Team fell to Trinidad & Tobago 1-2 and Honduras beat Mexico 3-2; with these results, the USMNT is surprisingly out of the Russia 2018 World Cup, while Honduras earned its right to repechage.