CARSON, Calif. – Jaime Penedo has been the backbone for the Panamanian National Team for more than a decade and now the LA Galaxy’s 33-year-old goalkeeper will join the nation’s most exclusive club.
Penedo will make his 100th appearance for Los Canaleros during Sunday’s match against the United States at StubHub Center on his home pitch. His 100th cap comes 10 years after Penedo’s first appearance with the Central American nation when Penedo backstopped his nation against Jamaica in September 2004.
The Galaxy goalkeeper will be honored pregame by the Panamanian federation when he joins midfielder Gabriel Gomez as one of two players in the federation’s 87 year existence to reach the century mark in appearances.
“Words cannot begin to explain what it means to represent your country,” Penedo said recently of the honor. “To earn 100 appearances is something that fills me with great pride. Only a small number of players earn such an honor and I feel truly blessed to be among them.”
However, the distinction may be a tad bittersweet for Penedo and Panama as they will face the U.S. side that gave the goalkeeper and his nation their lowest point on the global soccer stage. Ahead with just minutes to play in a World Cup qualifier back in November 2013, Panama was primed to move one step closer to their first ever World Cup berth, but a late U.S. rally that included two goals in stoppage time ended Los Canaleros’ dreams of reaching Brazil.
While Penedo admits the sting of that match will never go away, the Galaxy goalkeeper insists that there will be no thoughts of revenge on his mind when he takes on the U.S. for the first time since that fateful night in Panama City.
“We can beat the United States 18,000 times after [that loss] but since they cost us the World Cup, there is no revenge,” Penedo said. “[Panama head coach Hernan Dario Gomez] has brought a team that will make sure that we have a very good match. There may be many new players that the fans do not know, but I am sure that the team will come with the same enthusiasm and desire.”
But in the end, the opponent does not truly matter to Penedo who is overjoyed with the chance to reach a career milestone in front of his home crowd at StubHub Center. However, Penedo isn’t expecting many of them to change their allegiance over to Panama once the match kicks off.
“There are situations that only football can give you,” Penedo told reporters. “It is always it's an honor to play for my national team against a big competitor, and at my home stadium. It's an honor to play in front of [Galaxy fans], but they'll support their country.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
