Panama host Curacao on Sunday with the first spot in the CONCACAF Nations League up for grabs at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City.
The sides failed to produce a goal during the first leg in Willemstad despite visiting Panama dominating proceedings.
They could be hard to separate again in this second-leg encounter. The hosts have not lost a Nations League outing at that venue this decade, while Curacao are unbeaten in 10 Nations League games and have avoided defeat in their last 12 games against CONCACAF opposition.
Panama vs. Curacao betting picks and predictions
Panama to win & under 2.5 goals (+210)
With the first leg failing to produce a goal, this defining clash in Panama City is unlikely to provide an end-to-end attacking affair.
Curacao's last three games have produced an aggregate total of three goals. At the World Cup this summer they held Ecuador scoreless and were beaten 2-0 by Ivory Coast.
Panama's three group games – against Ghana, Croatia and England – yielded just four goals, with only eventual semi-finalists England scoring more than once against Thomas Christiansen's men.
At the Kirin Cup in Japan last month, Los Canaleros played out 1-1 draws with New Zealand and Ecuador over 90 minutes.
A low-scoring contest is forecast but Panama should be good enough to breach the Blue Wave.
They had 16 shots at goal in the first leg, compared to just six for Curacao. This is a fifth meeting of these sides since 2021, with two Panamanian wins and two scoreless draws previously. Those four games have yielded just six goals and similar trends should unfold now.
Tie/Panama Half Time/Full Time (+300)
Of those four meetings that started with the 2022 World Cup qualifier at the Estadio Nacional Rod Carew in this city, three were level at the half-time break.
All three of Panama's games at the World Cup this summer were scoreless at half-time while they went in level with New Zealand in their Kirin Cup opener last month. Los Canaleros have not trailed at the interval in any of their last six non-friendly games.
Two of Curacao's last three games in the Nations League were deadlocked at the half-time break.
Panama should dominate possession but their lack of creativity is a concern with just three goals in their last seven internationals. They may require some time to break down the resistance from Dick Advocaat's plucky visitors.
Over 9 Corners (+120)
The first leg produced nine corners, with five for visitors Panama and four from the home side at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Willemstad.
Nine was also the figure in Panama's Kirin Cup clash with Ecuador last month while both of Curacao's Nations League games against Trinidad & Tobago in October went into double figures for corners.
Curacao faced 23 corners in three World Cup games in the summer, while there were nine in Panama's defeat to Croatia and 10 in the loss to England.
With qualification on the line, there should be some desperate defending at times in this contest and the sides can combine to exceed the first leg total of nine corners.
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Panama vs. Curacao odds
Panama | -188 |
Tie | +280 |
Curacao | +475 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
