Narrow two-legged loss to Panama for Town’s midfielder
- Juninho Bacuna’s Curacao lose in World Cup qualifiers
- Narrow 2-1 defeat to Panama after goalless second leg
- Gold Cup Group Stage up next for Bacca in July
There was heartbreak for Huddersfield Town midfielder Juninho Bacuna and his Curacao teammates in the early hours of Wednesday morning, as they were eliminated from the World Cup qualifiers by Panama.
After a narrow 2-1 defeat in the first leg in Panama, the Curacao squad could not find a way to break the deadlock and get back on level terms at their Ergilio Hato Stadium, drawing 0-0 over 90 minutes and being eliminated on aggregate.
Earning his 10th cap for his nation, Juninho played the full 90 minutes, continuing his record as a virtual ever-present throughout the qualification campaign.
There’s no time for the Curacao squad to linger on that result, as they are soon back in action in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The tournament is being held in the United States between 10 July and 1 August, with Curacao in Group A alongside Mexico, El Salvador, and one of Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, Cuba, or French Guinea.
Curacao’s first game is scheduled for 10 July, when they play El Salvador in Frisco, Texas.
Town have another player who could be in international action today, with Academy midfielder Ernaldo Krasniqi in line for a debut for Albania Under-19s against Kosovo at 5pm UK time.
