EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Jaime Penedo wasn’t looking for redemption.
He wasn’t looking to reminisce.
All the Panamanian goalkeeper wanted to do was lead his team into the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals and he did that in heroic fashion.
The LA Galaxy standout made a pair of saves during a penalty kick shootout, including the decisive kick by Lester Peltier in the ninth round, to guide Los Canaleros to a 6-5 shootout win after Panama and Trinidad & Tobago played to a 1-1 draw at MetLife Stadium Sunday.
Penedo was mobbed by teammates after he parried Peltier’s shot off the post. It was in stark contrast to a penalty kick loss to the United States in the Gold Cup final almost 10 years ago to the day at the old Giants Stadium.
“They’re different games, different moments,” Penedo said. “I feel real joy because today was a real blessing to be able to advance to the next round.”
The shootout didn’t start out the way Panama wanted when captain Roman Torres blasted his shot over the crossbar. It had a chance to get much worse when Daniel Cyrus stepped up to win it for the Soca Warriors in the seventh round.
“The key moment was when [Cyrus] took his kick and if they made it they win,” Penedo said. “The referee told me that and I thought 'ugh,' but then he missed and we went on to win and now we can all smile.”
Cyrus chipped over the bar, opening the door for Panama. And when Valentin Pimentel scored to open the ninth round, Penedo stepped up on his mantle and assumed his role as one of the region’s top shot stoppers.
“Penedo is very fast. He’s like [Rene] Higuita,” said Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez, who coached Higuita with Colombia. “Jaime has a very high, impressive level. He’s very good in the goal and his level of confidence is even more now.”
While Penedo doesn’t quite have Higuita’s hair or his flair for the dramatic, he know has another highlight in a career full of them.
“I think every moment has its sensation and own emotion,” Penedo said. “Like when people ask me what’s better, winning the league title in Guatemala or winning it in MLS, and I tell them each one has its own flavor and feeling. Each one is divine in the moment.”
