Colombia, Panama advance to Gold Cup semi-finals

HOUSTON – Colombia and Panama advanced to a semi-final showdown at the CONCACAF Gold Cup football tournament here Sunday with dramatic triumphs before 55,000 spectators.

Second-half goals by Jaime Castrillon and Abel Aguilar lifted Colombia past Mexico 2-1 in the day’s first quarter-final and Panama downed South Africa on penalty kicks 5-3 after drawing 1-1 through two extra 15-minute periods. Panama and Colombia will meet in a Thursday semi-final at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Honduras will meet the United States in Thursday’s other semi-final.Castrillon scored in the 58th minute to give Colombia the lead but Mexico equalized in the 64th minute on Gonzalo Pineda’s goal.Aguilar found the back of the net in the 75th minute for the decider.Panama’s Gabriel Gomez scored the deciding goal in the penalty kick shoot-out to oust the Africans.Jorge Luis Dely Valdes scored in the 47th minute for Panama while Lungisani Ndlela equalized for South Africa in the 63rd minute.-Nampa-AFPPanama and Colombia will meet in a Thursday semi-final at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Honduras will meet the United States in Thursday’s other semi-final.Castrillon scored in the 58th minute to give Colombia the lead but Mexico equalized in the 64th minute on Gonzalo Pineda’s goal.Aguilar found the back of the net in the 75th minute for the decider.Panama’s Gabriel Gomez scored the deciding goal in the penalty kick shoot-out to oust the Africans.Jorge Luis Dely Valdes scored in the 47th minute for Panama while Lungisani Ndlela equalized for South Africa in the 63rd minute.-Nampa-AFP