Walsall defender Donervon Daniels and midfielder Brandon Comley retained their starting spots as Montserrat took on Panama in their second group game in the Second Round of the CONCACAF FIFA World Cup qualifiers.MONTSERRAT TEAM
Trent Carter-Rodgers; Jeriel Dorsett, Donervon Daniels, Jernade Meade, Nico Gordon, Brandon Barzey, Alex Dyer, Brandon Comley, Lyle Taylor, Jamie Allen, Kaleem Simon
Subs: Lucas Kirnon, Mylan Benjamin, Lenni Rae Cirino, Josiah Dyer, Corrin Brooks-Meade, Dominic Richmond, Kymani Nelson, Joey Taylor, Bradley Woods-Garness, Rafaele Cirino
After losing 4-1 to Nicaragua in their opening group game last week, Montserrat were keen to avoid defeat and get their first points on the board as they bid to make it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Unfortunately for Montserrat, the first goal of the game went the way of Panama as, with around five minutes of the first-half remaining, Académico Viseu midfielder Jovani Welch saw a long-distance effort deflect past the 'keeper and into the back of the net.
Montserrat didn't let their heads drop and were able to level the scores early in the second forty-five as Arabian Falcons man Kaleem Strawbrige-Simon took advantage of some ill-afforded space to slam the ball home from the edge of the area.
Despite their leveller, Montserrat were unable to build upon it as Universidad Católica attacker José Fajardo got on the end of a José Luis Rodríguez cross to head Panama back into the lead shortly after the match reached the hour mark.
Panama went on to extend their lead a little time later as, not content with his assist, Famalicão winger José Luis Rodríguez headed the ball over the line as Montserrat began to become a little stretched at the back with the game slipping from their grasp.
Daniels and Comley, who was booked for time wasting early in the second half, played for the full ninety minutes, but were unable to help their side back into the game as they suffered a second defeat in as many games.
| STRAWBRIDGE-SIMON (48') |
WELCH (40') FAJARDO (61') RODRIGUEZ (70') |