Bicycle kick goal from Marta Cox sets Panama up for World Cup qualifier against Paraguay

At North Harbour Stadium, Auckland: Panama 2 (Marta Cox 12’, Riley Tanner 63’) Papua New Guinea 0. HT: 1-0

Marta Cox scored a brilliant bicycle kick goal to send Panama on their way to a crucial Fifa Women’s World Cup qualifying win over Papua New Guinea on Sunday.

Riley Tanner added a second just after the hour mark as the Central American nation set up a showdown with Paraguay in Hamilton on Thursday in the final playoff for a place at this year’s tournament in New Zealand and Australia.

Panama were the dominant side throughout at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland and probably should have scored more than the two goals they did, as they put 16 shots on target.

Cox’s goal after 12 minutes was spectacular, even if the Papua New Guinea defence did give her plenty of room and goalkeeper Betty Sam made no effort to stop it.

Papua New Guinea were seeking to become the first side from Oceania other than New Zealand’s Football Ferns to qualify for a Women’s World Cup.

They forced nine saves themselves and their best chance came two minutes from halftime, when Ramona Padio and Calista Maneo had shots stopped by Panama goalkeeper Yenith Bailey in quick succession.

Tanner’s goal came in the 63rd minute when she cut inside from the right flank and entered the box in the middle of the park, before finishing neatly across goal.

She thought she had scored a second in the 84th minute in much simpler fashion – a tap-in after Hilary Jaen’s shot from the left hit the right post and bounced back into her path.

But after a check by the video assistant referee, it became clear she had been offside as the initial shot came in.

The big moment

Bailey’s double save late in the first half ensured Panama remained in front at the halftime break and denied Papua New Guinea the chance to start again with a stalemate in the second spell.

The big picture

At the start of the week, there were 10 teams chasing three spots at the World Cup, but now there are only six. Chile or Haiti will seal one on Wednesday afternoon in Auckland, with Portugal or Cameroon following suit that evening at Waikato Stadium and Paraguay or Panama getting their chance the following afternoon in Hamilton. The winner of that last match will have made it for the first time.