Panama and Cuba play to 1-1 draw

Panama and Cuba soccer game ended in a 1-1 draw on Thursday afternoon at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas, to open Olympic qualifying.

Josiel Nunez pulled back a goal for Panama in the 76th minute after his team trailed for most of the game.

Nunez’s header at the back post equalized a sixth-minute goal scored by Cuba’s Maykel Reyes. In the 6th minute, Panama goalkeeper Elisier Powell tried to clear his line, but fired the ball into Reyes’ leg and it bounced into the net.

While Cuba held its own in the first half, the second half was controlled almost entirely by Panama. The game ended with Panama taking 14 shots to Cuba’s eight. Most of the second half was spent near the 18-yard box of Cuba as Panama hammered pressure onto the Cuban goalkeeper Sandy Sanchez.

Before the game began, Cuba was already missing four players. This left the Cuba team with only five substitutes while Panama had nine at its disposal.

Cuba faces the U.S. on Saturday, while Panama takes on Canada.

World Boxing Championship

Cuban boxing coach Rolando Acebal said the country seeks to win back the overall title at the World Boxing Championship to be held in Doha, Qatar, from October 5 to the 15th .

Acebal also said the other goal is to increase the number of qualified boxers for Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Acebal said they want to get other three tickets in Qatar, adding he is confident that Andy Cruz (56 kg), Roniel Iglesias (69) and Erislandy Savon (91) will get them.

Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) secretary Iqbal Hussain said International Boxing Association (AIBA) picked Pakistani boxer Mehmoodul Hassan to compete at the World Boxing Championships, starting from October 5th in Doha, Qatar. The Sports official added the PBF have requested the Pakistan Sports Board to grant a training tour to Cuba and hire a Cuban coach next month.

The Moroccan Royal Federation of Boxing has announced that 8 Moroccan boxers will represent Morocco in the World Boxing Championship finals. In order to improve their preparation, the eight boxers have completed a three-week internship in Cuba.

The 8 Boxers guaranteed their participation in the World Championships after winning the 17th African Boxing Championship in Casablanca last August.

Cuban Baseball Series

Ciego de Ávila remained at the top of the standings of the 55th Cuban Baseball Series with its win over Sancti Spíritus 2-1 in 11 innings on Thursday.

Ciego de Ávila Reliever Yunier Cano won with four and a third innings of pitching, allowing a run and three hits.

Industriales beat Las Tunas 7-6 supported with homers by Yuliesky Gurriel and Javier Camero and good relieve by pitcher Héctor Ponce who allowed three hits and a run in four and two thirds innings.

Ciego de Ávila now has a record of 19 wins and 6 losses, followed by Industriales 18-7 and Granma 16-8.

Also on Thursday, Cienfuegos defeated Granma 4-2 with combined pitching by Norberto González and Yasmany Insua. Matanzas won over Santiago de Cuba with score of 7-6 in extra innings. Pinar del Río outdid Guantánamo 7-5. Villa Clara beat Camagüey 4-2. Holguín crushed Mayabeque 5-0 and Artemisa overcame Isla de la Juventud 4-1.