Panama thrashes Honduras 4-0 to reach Concacaf Pre-Olympic quarterfinals

Panama secured its place in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Pre-Olympic tournament with a decisive 4-0 victory over Honduras in Puebla, Mexico. The win propelled Panama forward in the competition, which serves as a qualifier for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the 2027 World Cup.

The goals for Panama came from Alan Cury, Moisés Richards, Gerson Gordón, and Carlos Rodríguez. Honduras, despite controlling possession early in the match through midfielders Richard Martínez and David Flores, failed to convert their opportunities. Panama capitalized on a corner kick in the 33rd minute, with Josué Wood heading the ball past the Honduran goalkeeper Alan Cury.

Panama extended their lead to 2-0 on a swift counter-attack. Moisés Richards initiated the play from midfield, advanced into the box, and skillfully chipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. As Honduras pressed forward in search of a goal, they left spaces that Panama exploited. Gerson Gordón added a third goal in added time of the first half, powerfully finishing a cross from Rodríguez. In the second half, Carlos Rodríguez sealed the victory in the 69th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error to score Panama's fourth goal.

The victory placed Panama second in Group C with four points, behind Canada and Jamaica, each with five points. This allowed Panama to advance as one of the tournament's best third-place finishers. Honduras, with only one point, was eliminated from contention.