Sports

by Eric Jackson

On March 16 Panama went farther than ever before --- but not necessarily to the next round --- in the CONCACAF North America- Central America-Caribbean professional club soccer tournament. Playing at home in Rainbow City before less than a full house, Colon Arabe Unido beat Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew by a 2-1 score.

Figured by who controlled the ball for most of the game and who had the most chances, the score underestimated the level of the Panamanian team’s domination. However, that dominance and the final score must also be considered in light of referee calls that put the Crew short-handed for most of the game and gave Arabe Unido its first goal on a penalty shot.

The penalty shot was awarded 16 minutes into the game, when Columbus goalie John Busch fouled Colon’s Temístocles Pérez and Augustín Salinas bounced the shot off of Busch’s fingertips into the net. The devastating red card came just eight minutes into the game, when referee Neftalí Recinos sent Crew defender Jeff Cunningham off.

Despite being shorthanded, Columbus came back early in the second half, with Edson Buddle heading a beautiful Kyle Martino centering pass past Colon goalie Diego Hoyos. However, less than four minutes later Arabe Unido went back on top when the Crew's goalie stopped a screamer by Manuel Torres directed at the left side of the goal but allowed a rebound which Julio Medina volleyed into the upper right-hand corner.

The two teams face each other again in Columbus, Ohio on March 23. A win would send Arabe Unido to the quarter finals of the CONCACAF club tournament.