The group stage of the Copa Centroamericana wraps up Wednesday evening at BBVA Compass in Houston, Texas, with berths in the tournament final, as well as the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup on the line. Be sure to check back this evening for up-to-date results and recaps of the games, and check out the Copa Centroamericana homepage for standings, the schedule, and more coverage of the tournament.
Panama 2, Nicaragua 0
FC Dallas forward Blas Perez saved his team's blushes against minnows Nicaragua as he scored the winning goal for Panamain the 81st minute, but a late push by Los Canaleros was not enough to get them into the Copa Centroamericana final.
Perez was on hand to redirect a shot from distance into the net and finally break down a resolute Nicaraguan defense backed by a standout showing from goalkeeper Justo Lorente, which included a 59th-minute penalty save. Roman Torres added a headed goal just a minute after Perez's strike, but it was not enough to knock Costa Rica off the top of Group B.
The win did bring the Panamanians level with their northern neighbors on four points apiece from two games, but Costa Rica's +3 goal differential meant they, and not Panama (+2 GD), booked a spot in Saturday's final.
Like Perez, LA Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo started and went the full 90 for Panama, who qualified for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup and will face the second-placed team in Group A in the third-place game earlier on Saturday. Colorado Rapids forward Gabriel Torres also featured in the game, entering off the bench in the 68th minute.
El Salvador 2, Belize 0
Rafael Burgos and Arturo Alvarez picked up second-half goals to lead El Salvador past minnows Belize.
Burgos, who plays for Minnesota United of the NASL, finished off a through-ball from Alvarez — who's spent time in MLS with San Jose and Dallas, and was born in the US — earlly in the second half. El Salvador doubled the lead 20 minutes later when Alvarez blasted home after a solo run.
Honduras 0, Guatemala 2
Seattle Sounders midfielder Marco Pappa will spend his weekend playing for a trophy.
The veteran international picked a goal in each half to lead Guatemala past Honduras and into the Copa Centroamericana final. It will mark the first final for La Bicolor in nearly 20 years — the last coming in 1995.
Pappa went 85 minutes before coming off for Guatemala, who went 3-0-0 in group play. Johnny Leveron of the Vancouver Whitecaps went 45 minutes for Los Catrachos, who finished 1-0-2.
Guatemala will face Costa Rica in Saturday's final.
