Thinking about Qatar 2022: Panama and Peru tied in Lima with their sights set on qualifying [Video]

The national teams of Peru and Panama tied 1-1 in a friendly match played this Sunday at the National Stadium in Lima as part of his preparation for the World Cup qualifiers for the Qatar World Cup 2022.

The goals were scored by the Peruvian Alex Valera , at 37 minutes, and by Panamanian Abdiel Ayarza, at 71. Although both teams presented squads made up mostly of players from their national leagues, the match had an intense process and featured risky actions in both goals.

While Peru laid down its game on the left side, to find combinations between Christopher Gonzáles, Marcos López and Andy Polo, Panama tried to impose the experience of players like Armando Cooper, Alberto Quintero and Abdiel Ayarza, the latter two well known in Peru for playing in the national League 1.

The Panamanians had the first clear option to the 10 minutes of play, but goalkeeper Pedro Gallese ratified his great reflexes to prevail in a one-on-one match over José Fajardo, who had been enabled by Cooper.

Peru replied two minutes later with a shot by Gonzáles that was deflected for a corner by goalkeeper Mosquera, who ue in the next play he returned to anticipate Valera in a deep pass.

In the following minutes, Panama took control of the game, with short and quick touches, and at 24 Ayarza entered from the right at speed and sent a shot crusader who overcame Gallese but went just wide of the target.

The Peruvians balanced their actions towards the 28, with a better recovery in the midfield, and minutes later Horacio Calcaterra anticipated Cooper in a start and sent a shot that was blocked by Mosquera, but the ball was left at the feet of Valera, who broke parity with a cross shot.

At the beginning of the second half Peru looked more loose, with quick touches and progressions, but lacked depth, while Panama progressively advanced their lines to seek parity with daring.

When they played 71 minutes, the visitors took advantage of an error in the exit of the newly entered Nilson Loyola and matched the account with a Ayarza’s low shot that did justice to what was seen on the pitch.

Panama, which ranks fourth placed in the final octagonal that grants the right to play a playoff in the Concacaf qualifier, he faced this match with his sights set on the matches he will play with Costa Rica, the 27 from January; Jamaica, January 24; and Mexico, on February 2.

Peru, on the other hand, is in fifth position in the South American qualifiers, which grants the right to play-offs, and is preparing to play crucial matches as a visitor against Colombia, on January 30, and Ecuador, on February 1, at home.

After this Sunday’s friendly, the Blanquirroja will host Jamaica next Thursday at the National Stadium in Lima.

• Data sheet:
• Peru: Pedro Gallese; Aldo Corzo, Christian Ramos, Alexander Callens, Marcos López (m.57 , Nilson Loyola), Jesús Castillo (m.68, Renzo Garcés), Horacio Calcaterra (m.68, Oslimg Mora), Andy Polo (m.82, Luis Iberico), Christopher Gonzáles (d.90, Jhilmar Lora), Edison Flores (m.71, Jairo Concha) and Alex Valera.
  Coach: Ricardo Gareca.
• Panama: Orlando Mosquera; Omar Córdoba, Harold Cummings, Azmahar Ariano, Jorge Gutiérrez (m.71, Jovani Welch ), Víctor Medina (m.37, Jorge Méndez), Abdiel Ayarza (m.85, Irving Gudiño), Armando Cooper, Cristian Quintero (m.76, Jair Catuy), Alberto Quintero and José Fajardo (d.85, Luis Asprilla).
  Coach: Thomas Christiansen.
  Goals: 1-0. m.37: Alex Valera. 1-1, m.71: Abdiel Ayarza.
  Referee: Fernando Echenique (ARG). He admonished Jorge Méndez.
  Incidents: friendly match in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers in Qatar 965 played without an audience at the National Stadium in Lima due to the restrictions imposed to deal with the COVID-epidemic 16.