Honduras has advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup Semifinals for the first time since 2013, after defeating Panama in a dramatic penalty shootout. The two teams battled to a 1-1 draw in their quarterfinal match, before Honduras ultimately prevailed 5-4 on penalties.
Panama controlled possession for much of the first half, finally breaking through just before halftime. In the 44th minute, Cristian Martínez was fouled in the penalty area by Honduras' Edwin Rodríguez. Ismael Díaz converted the penalty, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom left corner to give Panama a 1-0 lead. The goal was Díaz's sixth of the tournament, surpassing Gabriel Torres for the most goals by a Panamanian player in a single Gold Cup. Panama scored 10 goals in the three games during the group stage, including eight in the first half.
Honduras struggled to create scoring chances for most of the match but found an equalizer late in the second half. In the 82nd minute, a corner kick led to Carlos Pineda's shot being deflected into the net by Anthony Lozano, leveling the score at 1-1.
With the score tied after 90 minutes, the match went straight to penalties. Both teams made four of their first five attempts. Honduras had a chance to win on their fifth attempt, but Panama's goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera made a diving save to deny Lozano. Panama's Eduardo Guerrero then sent his penalty over the crossbar, giving Honduras another opportunity to win. Carlos Pineda stepped up and confidently converted his penalty into the bottom left corner, securing the victory for Honduras.
Honduras will now face the winner of the Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia match in the semifinals on Wednesday in Santa Clara, California. Panama, a three-time Gold Cup runner-up, once again fell short of reaching the final. They have lost in the championship game twice to the United States (2005, 2013) and once to Mexico (2023). Honduras was a runner-up in the inaugural tournament in 1991, losing to the United States. This was the first knockout round meeting between the two countries in the Gold Cup.
