In a dramatic quarterfinal clash at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, Honduras secured a hard-fought victory over Panama, winning 5-4 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. The match, held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, saw Honduras advance to their first Gold Cup semifinal since 2013.
Panama, who had a perfect record in the group stage, dominated possession in the first half. Their efforts paid off when Cristian Martinez was fouled by Edwin Rodriguez in the penalty area in the 44th minute. Ismael Diaz, the tournament's leading scorer, calmly converted the penalty, giving Panama a 1-0 lead. This was Diaz's sixth goal of the tournament, surpassing Gabriel Torres as the Panamanian player with the most goals in a single Gold Cup.
Honduras struggled to create scoring opportunities for much of the match but found their footing late in the second half. In the 82nd minute, Anthony Lozano redirected a shot from Carlos Pineda into the net, leveling the score and forcing the game into extra time. The goal was described as lucky for Honduras, as it came off a deflection from a corner kick.
With the score still tied after extra time, the match went to a penalty shootout. Both teams successfully converted their first four penalties. Honduras had the chance to win when Panama's Eduardo Guerrero missed the net, sending his shot over the bar. However, Lozano's penalty was saved by Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, keeping Panama alive. Ultimately, Carlos Pineda stepped up and confidently scored the decisive penalty, sending Honduras to the semifinals with a 5-4 shootout victory.
Honduras will now face the winner of the Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia quarterfinal match in the semifinal in Santa Clara, California, on Wednesday, July 2. This victory marks a significant moment for Honduras, who are aiming to return to the top tier of Concacaf football. Meanwhile, Panama, a three-time Gold Cup runner-up, will have to wait for another opportunity to claim their first title.
The other quarterfinal matchups include the United States against Costa Rica and Canada against Guatemala. The winners of these matches will advance to the semifinals, with the final scheduled for July 6 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
