10PM EDT is the starting time. To get to the action, click to the next page below (or click on the above image).
If CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying ended ahead of this match, Costa Rica would be off to Brazil while Panama would be going on summer vacation.
Both sides have played five matches coming into Tuesday’s showdown in San Jose, and at the halfway point of the schedule, Costa Rica are second to the United States in The Hex with eight points—three places up on Panama, who are just two points adrift but second from bottom in the six-team table.
Panama have never progressed to a World Cup finals, but never before have they had a side quite as good as this. Already they have picked up a win against Honduras and a draw at home to Mexico, and their 2-0 defeat to the United States last week was their only loss of The Hex so far.
Costa Rica, meanwhile, partook in the World Cups of 1990 (where they made the Round of 16), 2002 and 2006 and, like Panama, have lost only to the United States in the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying.
