PANAMA CITY (DA) — Curaçao faces Panama on Sunday with a chance to reach the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals for the first time and qualify directly for the 2027 Gold Cup. The second leg of their League A quarterfinal kicks off at 7 p.m. Curaçao time (6 p.m. in Panama) at Estadio Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez.
After Thursday’s 0-0 draw in Willemstad, a win in regulation sends either team through. A draw with goals after 90 minutes also puts Curaçao through on away goals.
Another 0-0 at the end of regulation sends the match to 30 minutes of extra time, when goals count equally for both teams. If the score is still tied after extra time, a penalty shootout decides the series. The losing team will play in the Gold Cup preliminaries.
Curaçao coach Dick Advocaat confirmed at Saturday’s pre-match news conference that defender Sherel Floranus will miss the second leg with an injury. Before the first leg, Advocaat had said he would reassess Floranus for Sunday’s match.
When Floranus joined the squad in Curaçao, PEC Zwolle’s plan was for him to sit out both legs and continue his recovery in consultation with the national team doctor, according to sources with knowledge.
Eloy Room made 6 saves for Curaçao in the first leg at Stadion Ergilio Hato. Both teams hit the post before halftime, Curaçao through Tahith Chong and Panama through Amir Murillo.
Curaçao reached its first Nations League quarterfinal by winning Group A with 3 wins and a draw. Panama, the 2024-25 runner-up, entered this edition in the quarterfinals as one of four seeded teams.