Panama, Costa Rica 2-2 in friendly
PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama and Costa Rica drew 2-2 in a friendly match between two Central American neighbors on Friday. Michael Barrantes gave Costa Rica a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute. But Panama took a 2-1 lead through goals in the 28th and 39th minutes by Luis Tejada. Alvaro Saborio equalized for the visitors in the 52nd before a crowd of 32,000 at newly remodeled Rommel Fernandez stadium in Panama City. The two teams will be rivals in next year's Copa Centroamericana, the regional championship.
Editor's Comment: If Panama ever wants to find out what it's like to participate in a World Cup, they need to be able to beat teams from countries like Costa Rica on a regular and routine basis. Panama has never qualified for the big event, because they can't get past, like, Trinidad & Tobago...
