Mexico and Panama to face-off in Hexagonal Final

Mexico and Panama will face each other this Friday on the seventh day of the Hexagonal Final on the road to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It has been almost four years since they last faced each other at the Azteca Stadium; the match was played on October 11, 2013.

At that time, the Mexican national team was amidst a severe crisis of results, which had cost them the job of Jose Manuel de la Torre, and in turn, Luis Fernando Tena. Mexico was in fifth place, outside of the World Cup, while Panama was in fourth place, with a spot in the playoffs.

In the match, the national team, led by Victor Manuel Vucetich, started winning with a goal from Oribe Peralta; the score was 1-0 at halftime. In the second half, when the match had leveled, Luis Tejada equalized for the Canaleros.

It seemed that the match was heading towards a draw and that Mexico would finish the Hexagonal without being able to win at the Coloso de Santa Ursula, but then came Raúl Jiménez's bicycle kick in the 86th minute, which gave the victory to El Tri, a result that, in part, secured their ticket to the playoffs; the other part was thanks to Graham Zusi's goal.

IN THE PRESENT

With 14 accumulated points, the Mexican national team is very close to securing their qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as a draw would practically guarantee their spot in the tournament. On the other hand, Panama no longer represents the threat it appeared to be four years ago; however, they are currently in fourth place, just like in the previous qualification, but locked in a dispute against Honduras for that same position.