Panama vs. Paraguay, for an International Friendly: result, summary, goals, controversies and more

In Panama City, the team led by Argentine Daniel Garnero won its last test 1-0 before the start of the continental competition against the Panamanian team.

Panama

vs

Paraguay

End

24′ 1T: Paraguay – Headed goal by Víctor Gustavo Velázquez Ramos

Paraguay beat Panama 1-0 at the Rommel Fernández Stadium in Panama City, for the last international friendly before the start of the Copa América. Those led by Daniel Garnero improved the image shown in the last matches and won thanks to the goal by Gustavo Velázquez, Newell’s defender. Adam Bareiro started.

Paraguay entered dominating and little by little Panama found its place, getting closer to the area, although never enough to take the lead on the scoreboard. Albirroja achieved it, and in one of their specialties, the ball stopped from a corner, Gustavo Velázquez scored in the 24th minute with a strong header, finding hardly any opposition.

Despite playing in a stadium with very little attendance, Panama came alive in the second half, having its best opportunity in the 51st minute, with a header from Fajardo alone in front of the goalkeeper, which just went wide when it seemed like a goal.

In the 57th minute, in a counterattack after a Panama opportunity, The South Americans were able to extend the lead with a bitten shot by Adam Bareiro in front of the goalkeeper, which narrowly missed. Panama had more opportunities at the end of the match, feeling superior to Paraguay, but it was not enough to equal the score.

Panama found itself with a much more demanding opponent than the previous matches it had played in recent weeks with Guyana and Montserrat in the Concacaf qualifiers for the World Cup to be organized in 2026 by the United States, Mexico and Canada, which it won 2-0 and 1-3 respectively.

The Paraguayan team had just played two friendly matches: against Chile they lost 3-0 as a visitor and tied 0-0 with Peru. After these results, Garnero had assured that neither Chile nor Peru “are better” than the Paraguayan team, although he acknowledged that they are having a hard time being effective and scoring goals.

Paraguay and Panama, with their eyes set on the Copa América

This match served the Panama and Paraguay teams to test themselves and measure their fitness before the start of what is their great objective: the Copa América that will be held from June 20 to July 14 in the United States.

“We want to try to be the surprise of this Copa América”Christiansen stated on the day before the meeting. Both Panama and Paraguay will not have an easy time in this tournament. Panama, in group C, will play for a place in the next round with the United States, Bolivia and Uruguaythe latter selection with which he will begin his journey in the competition on June 23.

With the absence due to injuries of defenders Andrés Andrade and Fidel Escobar and forward Cecilio Waterman, the coaching staff of the Panama national team called up 26 players among which there are only three attackers: Ismael Díaz and José Fajardo, from Universidad Católica (Ecu ), and Eduardo Guerrero, from Zorya Lugansk (UKR).

The Paraguayan team, in group D, will face the historic Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica, making its debut in the tournament with the Colombians on June 24. Julio Enciso and Miguel Almirón, internationals who play in the Premier League, stand out on the list of the 26 called up by Paraguay who will play in the Copa América. La Albirroja had to do without MLS player Diego Gómez due to an injury that did not allow him to be called up even in the previous list on May 31 made up of the players who would face the friendly matches preparatory to the Cup.

Panama vs. Paraguay, for a friendly: I relived the minute by minute