Fajardo’s moment of magic lifts Panama past El Salvador, reshaping the race for World Cup qualification

SAN SALVADOR — In a contest that hovered on the edge of stalemate for more than an hour under the gathering dusk at Estadio Jorge Gonzalez, it took a single act of composure from José Fajardo to shift the pulse of an entire qualifying campaign.

With the clock crossing the 55th minute and tension mounting in the stands, Fajardo streaked into the El Salvador box, latching onto a delicately weighted pass from Édgar Bárcenas. His first touch—steady, clinical—froze two Salvadoran defenders in their tracks, and with a calmness that defied the night’s fever pitch, the Panamanian forward slotted his shot low and true past goalkeeper Mario González. The stadium’s hush was instant and absolute; for Panama, a roar of vindication and relief.

From there, Panama’s task transformed into one of discipline and containment. El Salvador, desperate to avoid a second consecutive qualifying defeat, pressed forward in waves. Harold Osorio, hero of their previous victory in Guatemala, threaded ambitious passes into the final third, but the Panamanian center-back pairing of Fidel Escobar and Andrés Andrade snuffed out danger with the experience of a side that has weathered CONCACAF storms before.

No red cards, but plenty of yellow — a reflection of the match’s persistent edge and the stakes attached to every duel. Flares of frustration from the home side failed to shift the script. Despite late forays, including a searching cross from Bryan Tamacas that fizzed through the six-yard box in stoppage time, El Salvador could not find the finishing touch.

The result, Panama’s first victory of this qualifying cycle, comes at a pivotal juncture. They arrived in San Salvador trailing a mixed record — two draws from their previous outings, including a 1-1 result against Guatemala and a goalless contest in Suriname. Now, with Fajardo’s strike, Panama leapfrogs into a strengthened position in the table, their World Cup hopes freshly galvanized.

For El Salvador, the setback is compounded by recent form. A 1-2 home defeat to Suriname last month exposed their defensive frailties, though a narrow away win in Guatemala had briefly restored belief. Tonight, however, the familiar issue—an inability to convert possession into goals—reappeared at the most inopportune moment.

In the broader context, tonight’s encounter was more than just three points. History has not always been kind to El Salvador in this rivalry; Panama has now won three of their last five meetings. The Panamanian side, constructed around a core of seasoned internationals and a coach insistent on tactical pragmatism, played to the script: absorb pressure, seize the moment, and trust in their forwards’ ability to deliver in the margins.

The points tally tells its own story. Panama, with this result, has edged ahead as joint leader of the group, while El Salvador faces the prospect of ground to make up. In a qualification format that leaves little room for error, tonight’s outcome casts ripples that will reach far into the months ahead.

Implications for the road ahead are unmistakable. Panama, emboldened by their away triumph and surging confidence, will look to consolidate top spot in the group in the coming fixtures. For El Salvador, the next match acquires fresh urgency—a must-win, both in spirit and in mathematics, should their World Cup journey continue.

In the end, it was a single flash of quality—and a team that refused to relinquish its slender advantage—that made the difference. For José Fajardo and Panama, this was not just a goal, but a declaration: their World Cup dream is alive, and on nights like this, it feels inexorable.