Díaz’s Last-Gasp Equalizer Keeps Panama’s World Cup Dreams Alive—But Leaves Questions Against Suriname

On a humid night in Panama City, where tension hung as thick as the Caribbean air, Ismael Díaz supplied a lifeline for the home side at Estadio Rommel Fernández. His injury-time header salvaged a 1-1 draw for Panama against a resolute Suriname, a result that illuminated both the promise and the peril lurking in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

For much of Wednesday evening, Panama seemed destined for disappointment. Entering the match with an unbeaten streak in qualifying—four matches without a loss, including a narrow 1-0 win over El Salvador just days before—the hosts were expected to assert themselves. Instead, Suriname, buoyed by a run of their own solid form, seized the narrative early. In the 21st minute, Richonell Margaret etched his name into Surinamese football lore, latching onto a precise through ball and finishing coolly past Luis Mejía. The stadium fell silent save for the pocket of away supporters, as Suriname celebrated their first lead in Panama City in recent memory.

Suriname’s advantage owed much to tactical discipline. Head coach Dean Gorré set his side up to frustrate Panama, clogging passing lanes and relying on swift transitions. Panama, for all their attacking talent, labored to break down a compact Surinamese defense. Midfield engine Carlos Harvey pressed for rhythm, but clear chances were scarce. When they came—a Fajardo volley, a Harvey half-chance—they fell just wide, drawing anxious murmurs from a restless home crowd.

As the game wore on, frustration mounted. Panama’s recent history with Suriname—a gritty 0-0 stalemate in Paramaribo barely six weeks ago—suggested that this would be no easy path. Time and again, Suriname’s back line repelled crosses and blocked shots. On the counter, Virgil Misidjan and Radinio Balker threatened to double the lead, but Mejía stood firm and the post intervened once, sparing Panama further trouble.

With the clock winding down and the weight of expectation mounting, manager Thomas Christiansen turned to his bench in search of salvation. Díaz, Panama’s mercurial forward and one of the nation’s great hopes, found himself at the center of action as stoppage time began. Suriname, mere minutes from an historic away victory, began to falter under relentless pressure. In the 90th minute, following a scramble inside the box off a Harvey corner, Díaz soared above the crowd and flicked the ball into the far corner. The stadium erupted, relief mingling with celebration, as Díaz wheeled away to the embrace of teammates.

The late equalizer was dramatic, yet the point leaves Panama in a precarious position. With five matches played, they sit near the top of the qualification group, still unbeaten but now with three draws in their last five. The margins in CONCACAF qualifying are razor-thin, and Díaz’s goal may well be remembered as a turning point if Panama pushes on for one of the coveted World Cup spots. Christiansen knows, though, that his side must produce more incisive attacking play; too often tonight, they left themselves vulnerable to the kind of sucker punch that Margaret delivered.

For Suriname, the result is bittersweet. They walk away with a hard-earned point against a regional heavyweight, extending their own run of form after a late draw against Guatemala and a dramatic win over El Salvador in recent weeks. If not for Díaz’s moment of inspiration, they would have been celebrating a famous victory. Instead, they must settle for another draw, their third stalemate in five matches—a mark of progress, but perhaps also a missed opportunity.

Head-to-head, Suriname has proven a stubborn foe for Panama, with tonight’s draw echoing their earlier 0-0 encounter. Both matches have reinforced the notion that in this cycle, there are no foregone conclusions. The gap between the established powers and the rising challengers is narrowing, and every point—especially in such fiercely contested fixtures—may prove decisive.

As the qualifying campaign moves into its decisive phase, this draw ratchets up the pressure on both sides. For Panama, the emphasis shifts to unlocking attacking fluidity and claiming outright wins to secure their place among the elite. For Suriname, tonight’s performance will serve as a platform to build belief, fueling dreams of an unprecedented World Cup berth.

Estadio Rommel Fernández emptied slowly after the final whistle, fans debating what could have been and what must come next. Díaz was the hero, but the hard-fought point underscored the challenge still ahead. In CONCACAF qualifying, no lead is safe, no point guaranteed, and both Panama and Suriname left the pitch haunted by that knowledge—and driven by the hope that next time, it might be their moment to celebrate.