Panama claimed the final automatic spot in the 2018 World Cup from the North/Central American/Carribbean qualifiers at the expense of the United States, who are no doubt furious by Panama's equaliser against Costa Rica.
USA's shock 2-1 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago, coupled with Panama's 88th minute winner from Roman Torres to beat Costa Rica, meant the team from Central America finished third in the North/Central American qualifying and have booked their place in Russia.
But huge controversy ensued in the goal that brought Panama level in Panama City, as the strike became the latest "ghost goal" to add to the many we have seen in football over the years. It was a goal that never was.
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When a corner was swung into the box in the 52nd minute, visiting goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton wildly missed his punch and the ball ended up bouncing goalwards off Panama's Gabriel Torres and kissing the post.
Striker Blas Perez reacted rapidly and attempted to bundle the ball over the line, but despite the slightest of touches and the ball pretty much resting on the goal-line, Costa Rica defender Ronald Matarrita was able to intervene and put the ball out for a corner without a goal being scored. Or so he thought, as somehow the man in the middle Walter Lopez, deemed a goal, which was credited to G.Torres, to have been scored.
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Goal-line technology, which is not available to CONCACAF competitions as of yet, would have proved that it wasn't a goal with ease. The fact that the decision wasn't as tight as previous instances of goals not been given when they had been given, or vice-versa, makes it even more baffling for the referee.
Perez should probably have been awarded a penalty for the way he was being pulled back, but of course Panama still had to score that spot-kick. Even with how dreadful Bruce Arena's USA side were against Trinidad and Tobago, the worst team in the group, the USMNT would have finished third and qualified if that goal had not been given.
Image: PA
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Instead, what actually happened was that USA finished in third after a limp performance in their final fixture, Honduras took the play-off spot, and Panama joined Mexico and Costa Rica in Russia.
Their president, Juan Carlos Varela, got very excited after their late heroics and decided to the mark the national team's achievement by immediately arranging for a national holiday to be held today.
