Panama earned a hard-fought 1–0 victory over El Salvador on Thursday night at the Estadio Monumental Cuscatlán, with José Fajardo netting the decisive goal in a tense World Cup qualifying clash marked by VAR controversy and missed opportunities.
Fajardo’s goal midway through the first half proved to be the difference, as Panama capitalized on a defensive lapse to silence the home crowd. The match, however, was far from straightforward. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) played a major role — disallowing a second goal for Panama after a lengthy review. Moments later, El Salvador thought they had equalized, but their own goal was ruled out for offside, adding to the drama and frustration of the night.
Despite pushing forward in the closing minutes, La Selecta struggled to break through Panama’s organized backline and clinical game management. The home fans remained vocal throughout, but the visitors held firm to secure three vital points on the road.
With the defeat, El Salvador now has three matches remaining in the qualifying campaign. Their next challenge comes on Tuesday, October 14, when they host Guatemala, also at the Cuscatlán. The final two games will be played away from home, meaning every point from here on out will be crucial for their hopes of climbing the standings.
This match was covered on-site by Ricardo Ulloa, reporting exclusively for LA Momentum from San Salvador.
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