E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The last time Panama played a competitive match at Giants Stadium, they gave the United States all it could handle in the Gold Cup final before finally succumbing in penalty kicks in July, 2004.
And in the Group C opener of the 2007 Gold Cup, Panama came away with a 3-2 win over Honduras Friday night at the Meadowlands despite Amado Guevara's triumphant return to the stadium he once called home with the New York Red Bulls.
For a while in the first half, it looked like Guevara's return would be a victorious one. With nearly everyone at Giants Stadium cheering for them, Honduras dominated the opening 25 minutes. Jorge Samuel Caballeros headed Guevara's corner kick over the bar in the eighth minute and six minutes later, Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo dived to his left to push away Jorge Aaron Claros' rocket from 35 yards off a quick restart.
But things changed dramatically for Honduras when Canadian referee Mauricio Navarro sent off Wilson Palacios with a straight red card for a two-footed reckless tackle on Carlos Rivera in the 24th minute. And just past the half hour mark, Panama took the lead on their first scoring chance of the game. Rivera took a touch past Oscar Bonieck Garcia and put the ball under Honduran keeper Orlin Vallecillo in the 33rd minute. It was a mistake that would come back to haunt Honduras later in the match.
Honduras leveled five minutes later and it was Guevara, the 2004 MLS MVP who returned to play for Montagua in Honduras following a dispute with Chivas coach Preki earlier this season, who scored the goal.
After Panamanian captain Felipe Baloy was called for a foul on Honduran captain Carlos Pavon just outside of the 18-yard box, Guevara stepped up to take the free kick and he blasted it just under the crossbar and to the left of Penedo.
With the pro-Honduran crowd still abuzz over Guevara's brilliance, Panama went back in front when Blas Perez powerfully headed Roman Torres' cross over Vallecillo's right shoulder in the 42nd minute.
Guevara, the former captain at New York, just missed a chance to equalize in the 61st minute after Garcia was tripped up by Luis Moreno, who was booked on the challenge. Guevara put his free kick from the right of the goal on target, but Penedo dived to his left to make the save.
Five minutes later, Guevara freed Edgar Alvarez towards goal, but the Messina forward chipped the ball over the bar with Penedo coming off his line to challenge.
Ten minutes from full time, Guevara again threatened to equalize, but Penedo parried the attempt over the crossbar for a Honduras corner kick.
Despite Honduras' effort, Panama delivered the clinching goal on a counterattack two minutes later on a brilliant shot by Jose Luis Garces that he placed into the side-netting from 16 yards out.
Emil Martinez did his best to get Honduras back into match, but his diving header of a Guevara deflected corner kick was saved by Penedo in the 88th minute. Martinez followed by just missing to Penedo's right on a shot from distance in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Carlos Costly's downward header got Honduras to within a goal in the second minute of stoppage time, but that was Honduras' last quality chance.
Panama, now a favorite to advance out of Group C, faces Cuba while Honduras will meet powerful Mexico Sunday at Giants Stadium.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
