Rodriguez's scorcher forces Tunisia own goal

BeSoccer 7 years ago 277
Rodriguez put his side on the path to victory. Screenshot/TVN

Panama opened the scoring against Tunisia, with a searing shot from Jose Luis Rodriguez putting the South American nation ahead in the battle for pride as both teams failed to qualify for the last 16.

The Panamanian forward scored only the second goal in his country's history at a World Cup, and put Hernan Gomez's men on the path to victory in the Group H fixture.

Although they have already been eliminated from the World Cup, the Latin American team are still determined to make their mark in the competition, and having already scored against England, hungered for a win against Tunisia. 

Rodriguez received the ball in front, and whipped a shot that deflected off Yassine Meriah, and wrongfooted Tunisian goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi. The goal could well have decided Panama's first ever victory in a World Cup.

Unfortunately for Meriah, his own goal won the unfortunate accolade of 50th in the history of the World Cup, with nine of those coming in the 2018 tournament alone. 

Mentioned in the news story

World Cup
Yassine Meriah
Puma Rodríguez