WORLD CUP – Assembly rests as Panama struggleS through

Suspending the National Assembly for the afternoon was not enough of an incentive for Panama’s national soccer team to perform up to scratch in their last game in the CONCACAF group stage of World Cup qualifying..

The scraped into the playoff hexagonal after a lack luster performance against lowly Cuba in Havana on Tuesday October 16 with a 1-1 tie. In fact Panama got a shock with a first half goal from Cuba, and had to wait until late in the second half for the equalizer. .Wait was the operative word as Panama seemed to be waiting for a spark to ignite their performance, On Friday they has a similar disappointing tied game against Honduras in Panama. Had they won the game that day, Tuesday’s affair  would have been an exhibition match, as they would already have been assured of a place in the hexagonal. Fans who had expected to party on the Cinta Costera where giant TV screens were set up for the Friday, game, went home muted, leaving a massive clean up operation for the city and a hefty bill for repairing damage to the grass an fittings.
The team. With 11 points, now advances to the play off round to qualify for World Cup Brazil 2014.
CANADA THRASHED
Meawhile Honduras thrashed Canada 8-1, to gain its 11 points and  eliminate the northern team. . The hexagonal round will take place between February and October in 2013.
National Assembly, President Sergio Gálvez, who suspended the Natioanl Aeembly session at 2 pm on Tuesday to allow workers to watch the game used a printed circular to tell staff explained that "on the occasion of the general expectation that will give rise to the participation of the national soccer team in the game against Cuba as part of the elimination round for the 2014 World Cup, the work of this institution shall be suspended at 2 p.m. today."
The note added that the decision was made "so that the legislative family can follow the development of the above-mentioned game." Security personnel were exempted.