Three Panamanians advance to Honduran final

Three Panamanian footballers advanced to the final of the Honduran league with a single team. This is not an everyday occurrence. This involves defender Javier Rivera, defender Iván "Colocho" Anderson, and goalkeeper César Samudio. For now, the three Panamanians have qualified for the final with Marathón. In the 2016 Apertura, three Panamanians also reached the final with Platense. This Sunday, in the second leg against Platense in the semifinals (Triangulares), Javier Rivera scored Marathón's first goal, which was crucial to securing a 2-2 draw away at the Excelsior stadium in Puerto Cortés. With the victory, Marathón maintained the lead in "Triangular B", reached 7 points, and secured their ticket to the final. Platense was left with 2 points and Olancho with 1. In that occasion, Brunet Hay Pino, Richard Dixon, and José Calderón played in the final but lost to Motagua. Platense won the first half of the match 2-0, but in the 59th minute, Chiriquí native Javier Rivera made it 2-1, and then Argentine Nicolás Messiniti scored from the penalty spot in the 77th minute to tie the game at 2-2. Samudio is recovering, Anderson is injured. Panamanian goalkeeper César Samudio, Marathón's regular keeper, who has not seen action in the Honduran football "Triangulares", is recovering from a muscle injury. Now, Marathón will have to wait for the winner of "Triangular A", which could be Olimpia or Real España. The question is whether they will be able to recover in time for the Honduran final. While an injury report for "Colocho" Anderson is awaited.