Baloy makes history for Panama in loss to England
From Concacaf
Panama 24 Jun 2018
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia – Felipe Baloy made history by scoring Panama’s first ever FIFA World Cup goal in a 6-1 defeat to England in Group G action on Sunday at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
Despite the historic strike from the 37-year-old DF, Panama (0W-0D-2L, 1GF, 9GC) has been eliminated from advancing to the knockout round of the tournament.
England enjoyed a quick start, as John Stones found space in front of the Panama goal and headed in a corner kick to give the Three Lions a 1-0 lead in the 8’.
Panama looked to respond and Edgar Barcenas came close to equalizing on a curling left-footed shot that sailed wide in the 16’.
The England attack was on song though, and Dele Alli earned a penalty kick when he was taken down in the area, which Harry Kane converted from the spot in the 22’ to make it 2-0 to England.
Jesse Lingard then made it 3-0 for the European side in the 36’ with an excellent right-footed strike. Four minutes later Stones scored his second by heading in the rebound of Raheem Sterling effort that had been blocked by Panama GK Jaime Penedo, thus extending the England lead to 4-0.
The first half was capped by Kane’s second penalty conversion of the contest after the Tottenham FW had been fouled in the area on a corner kick. Kane fired in from 11 meters out to give England a 5-0 lead.
Kane was able to complete his hat trick in the 62’ when a shot from distance struck his heel and deflected in past Penedo to make it 6-0.
Panama never stopped fighting though, and Baloy made history by redirecting in a free kick to score Panama’s first ever World Cup goal in the 78’ to complete the 6-1 scoreline.
Panama will look to conclude its World Cup campaign on a positive note when it faces Tunisia on Thursday.
IMAGE: Panama´s Felipe Baloy (center # 23) celebrate after scoring the first goal ever for his team in a World Cup against England in a Group G match at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia on June 24, 2018 (Photo Courtesy Fepafut )
