Wonder strikes take Panama past Papua New Guinea

Outstanding goals from Marta Cox and Riley Tanner eased Panama past Papua New Guinea and into an Australia & New Zealand playoff tournament final with Paraguay.

An overhead kick from the former and a stunning solo run from the latter secured a thoroughly deserved win for the dominant Caribbean side, who are now just one more win away from qualifying for a first-ever Fifa Women’s World Cup.

Although Panama would have won by a far greater margin had there been a little more class and composure on show in the final third at times, there was quality in abundance in the goal that gave them a 12th-minute lead.

Katherine Castillo put in a fine cross from the right but, with the ball behind her, Cox deserved all the credit for adjusting her body to send an acrobatic scissors kick flashing past the helpless Sam Betty.

Papua New Guinea enjoyed their best spell towards the end of the first half, forcing a series of saves from Yenith Bailey, but Panama remained the better side and it was no surprise when substitute Tanner doubled their lead.

What did raise eyebrows was the style with which she did so, with the US-born 23-year-old weaving her way past four challenges before coolly tucking home a left-footed shot.

Stats

Dominant Panama registered no fewer than 36 attempts on goal.

Ignacio Quintana's side have only failed to find the net in two of their last 16 matches.

This was only Papua New Gunea’s third defeat in their last 16 matches.