Round 1 of Hexagonal 2013 as it happens

It's time for another edition of the CONCACAF Hexagonal.  It's already kicked off, and two more matches get underway shortly.  Let's get started!

Kickoff times in EST (GMT -5).

Honduras 2-1 USA FT
Panama 2-2 Costa Rica FT
Mexico 0-0 Jamaica FT

Commentary after the jump.

I have to take a phone call which will force me to miss the rest of the Mexico game, but it's been a fun day.  USA will be in fifth and maybe sixth place after Round 1, but they have to be pleased that neither Panama nor Costa Rica put any more distance between them.  But the biggest result of the night has to be the goalless draw between Jamaica and Mexico. Aztecazo Part II?

Panama got off to a hot start and looked like they were good for all three points, but Costa Rica's stars popped up when they were most needed -- first Saborío connected through the air to give the Ticos a lifeline, then Bryan Ruíz struck a well-taken overhead kick to split the points. 

2255: FULL TIME Panama 2-2 Costa Rica

2254: Last rush downfield for Panama and it ends in disjointed fashion as Pemberton collects.

2253: Corner kick to Costa Rica. The 8000 Costa Rican supporters in the end are jumping.

2252: Panama attacks lacking organization as we enter second-half stoppage time.

2248: Can Costa Rica win?  A long-range shot by Christian Bolaños just grazes the upper corner of the bar!

2246: I had a feeling that a goal would happen, both teams appeared complacent.  But what a day for chilenas, eh?

2244: GOAL Panama 2-2 Costa Rica (85')
What a great goal!  Costa Rica win possession on the left and work their way down the flank, ball finds its way to Bryan Ruíz who connects on a beautiful bicycle kick to level the scores.

2243: Panama now having to defend a couple of corner kicks.  Seven minutes left.

2239: Mexico-Jamaica now in second half.  Mexico's upped their game a bit.

2237: From Twitter:

Mexico would draw better for this match in LA.

— Alex Olshansky (@tempofreesoccer) February 7, 2013

2231: The match has become more rugged.  More imprecision and players leaving their feet.

2221: Another change for Costa Rica as Celso Borges leaves and M. Barrantes Rojas replaces him.

2219: A subpar Mexican side has given Jamaica opportunities to create a shock, but the woodwork and some narrowly missed shots have saved El Tri.  Jamaica will almost certainly drop deeper in the second half; can they hold on for a historic point?

2218: HALFTIME Mexico 0-0 Jamaica

2215: Into injury time in Mexico City.

2211: Already a chance for Costa Rica to level.  González's shot in the center of the area is controlled by Penedo.

2209: Second half starting in Panama City.  And already a change for Costa Rica as Campbell comes on for Brenes.

2206: I still believe that Mexico will win as Jamaica tire in the second half, but they aren't looking very sharp.

2159: That shot seems to have set off a fire under the Mexicans' backsides, because Guardado made a strong run inside the box, and the Jamaican defenders have to repel multiple Mexican chances in succession.

2157: Ooooh, Jamaica are taking their shots!  One shot whizzed just wide and Jamaica win a corner.

2155: The text commentary I was reading says that Mexico is underperforming.  I'm watching a video feed of Mexico-Jamaica for the first time and it looks like it's not a full stadium.

2150: Panama dominate play early by pressuring a nervous Costa Rican side, but the Ticos have found a way back into the match through Álvaro Saborío's header five minutes from the half.

2149: HALFTIME Panama 2-1 Costa Rica

2143: GOAL Panama 2-1 Costa Rica (40')
Costa Rica get on the board with a fine header by Álvaro Saborío off a deep cross into the box.

2140: Wow oh wow...Mexico very nearly went behind in Azteca.  A shot from Jamaica hit the post, and mcAnuff strikes the rebound, but Corona comes back to make a fine save.

2137: Of course just as I write that, Ruíz takes possession of the ball in midfield and works it between Saborío and Bolaños before the latter lets off a shot wide of Penedo's post. 

2136: Bryan Ruíz has been well neutralized up to now. 

2130: GOAL Panama 2-0 Costa Rica (26')
Once again a lethargic display by the Costa Ricans costs them a goal.  Beautiful dance moves on the right flank and a low cross to Román Torres who slots the ball home first time.  Rommel Fernández explodes, and the Ticos are in big trouble.

2127: Teams are on the pitch and the anthems are sounding at Azteca Stadium.

2123: Lineups for the match at Azteca:

Mexico: Corona -- Aguilar, Moreno, Rodríguez, Torres Nilo -- Herrera, Salcido -- dos Santos, Guardado -- Peralta, Hernández.

Jamaica: Ricketts -- Nosworthy, Mariappa, Taylor, Phillips, Elliot, Austin, J. Johnson, McCleary, McAnuff, R. Johnson.

2122: I don't believe the Costa Ricans have had a sustained possession so far.  They look very nervous, especially in defense.

2121: Commentators: "There are two managers in CONCACAF in real danger right now.  One of them is on the touchlines for Costa Rica.  The other lost this afternoon."

2118: GOAL Panama 1-0 Costa Rica (16')
The goal had been coming and it's finally here.  After a lovely combination on the right, Panama win a throw-in.  Ball finds its way to Luís Henríquez on the left, who strikes low into the far corner from the top of the box.

2115: First big chance for Panama.  Corner from the right flank is headed down by a Panama player, but Saborío is inside the goal area to head the ball away.

2113: Henríquez in particular is a danger for Panama.

2112: Panama look more comfortable in the opening ten minutes.

2111: Dangerous opportunity for Panama. Ruíz dispossessed 40 meters away from his own goal, four man rush downfield by the Panamanians down to the endline, and the cross floated through the box without finding a red shirt.

2107: Panama taking the early initiative in the match.  Long-distance shot was tipped over by Pemberton, and now La Roja is preparing for a corner.

2101: Here are the starting teams:

Costa Rica: Patrick Pemberto -- José Salvatierra, Christopher Meneses, Giancarlo González, Michael Umaña  -- Ariel Rodríguez, Celso Borges, Christian Bolaños, Randall Brenes -- Álvaro Saborío, Bryan Ruíz.

Panama: Jaime Penedo -- Luis Henríquez, Felipe Baloy, Román Torres, Carlos Rodríguez – Gabriel Gómel, Amílcar Henríquez, Armando Cooper, Yairo Yau – Blas Pérez, Rolando Blackburn.

2101: Just noticed that Costa Rican legend Paulo Wanchope is now an assistant to the national team.

2055: Had to step out for a bit, but I'm back.  Panama-Costa Rica about to start from Estadio Rommel Fernández.

1955: I see that ESPN's Production Analytics group is running sims with their Soccer Power Index that say that USA now have a 50/50 chance of qualifying.  I'll just say that next month's qualifier in the Denver metro against Costa Rica is a critical match.  But you guys already knew that.

1953: Some rapid reaction to the result --- on the USA side, Roger Bennett, Jeff Carlisle. (Grant Wahl's column is pending.) On the Honduras side, the press report from sports daily Diez, another one from sports daily La Tribuna Deportiva, and comments from Honduras coach Luís Suárez.

1940: For the moment, the big news is that the USA lost 2-1 at Honduras this afternoon.  It is the first time that the USA have lost a World Cup qualifier in Honduras.