Panama Newspaper Goes Crazy After Mexico Win Semi with Controversial Penalty

Panamanian newspaper Critica produced an expletive-laden front page after Mexico were awarded two highly controversial penalties in the countries' CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final in Atlanta.

Warning: The following image contains profanity.

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Panamanian daily @CriticaPa clearly not happy with referee Mark Geiger's performance in last nights #GoldCup game pic.twitter.com/FMMOzWSliS

— AS English (@English_AS) July 23, 2015"

Roman Torres gave Panama an early second-half lead, but the controversy started when American referee Mark Geiger adjudged that Torres had handled when he fell on the ball in the box. Andres Guardado drew the sides level with the resulting penalty.

 The Panama players and fans reacted furiously to the decision. Their anger was compounded when Geiger awarded a second soft penalty in extra time after Harold Cummings was judged to have unlawfully taken down Javier Orozco. Guardado again scored the penalty and sent Mexico into the final.

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Penalty #2 for Mexico tonight. 3 straight PK goals in this #GoldCup. #MEXvPAN pic.twitter.com/G4LJ0VKuSq

— Ben Jata (@Ben_Jata) July 23, 2015"

Panama later posted a picture of the team holding a banner with the words "CONCACAF cheaters."

It's the second time in consecutive games that Mexico have progressed as a result of a controversial penalty decision. Costa Rica's Roy Miller was perceived to have fouled Oribe Peralta in the box with seconds remaining in their quarter-final.

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122nd minute penalty call for Mexico #soccer http://t.co/16a4g7R0lv

— Score Soccer (@scoresoccer) July 20, 2015"

Mexico will face Jamaica in the final in Philadelphia on Saturday.