Dhoraso Klas scored in the 81st minute as Suriname shocked El Salvador 2-1 on Monday in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match. This was Suriname’s first win over El Salvador since 1968.
The team had started the qualifiers with a 0-0 home draw against Panama. This win ended an eight-match winless streak against El Salvador and brought Suriname to four points, while El Salvador stayed on three points following their 1-0 win over Guatemala.
In the other Group A match, hosts Panama and Guatemala played to a 1-1 draw, leaving both teams without a win after two of six group matches.
Despite the loss, El Salvador still leads the historical head-to-head with Suriname, having won eight times, lost twice, and drawn once, including earlier this year in a preliminary World Cup qualifier.
Suriname’s only previous win over El Salvador was in December 1968 during the qualifiers for the 1970 Mexico World Cup.
In the recent match, Suriname took the lead in the 12th minute when Radinio Balker, a Dutch-born defender for Huddersfield Town, scored with a header. Brayan Gil seemed to have equalized for El Salvador in the 29th minute, but the goal was overturned after a video review. El Salvador eventually made it 1-1 with an own goal by Suriname defender Anfernee Dijksteel in the 73rd minute. Later, Klas scored a right-footed shot from the right side to give Suriname the winning goal.
This year, CONCACAF changed the final round of World Cup qualifying because Mexico, Canada, and the United States will co-host the 2026 World Cup. The last 12 teams were split into three groups of four, with group winners qualifying directly and the two second-place teams moving on to inter-confederation playoffs.
Meanwhile, in Panama City, Guatemala took the lead in the 35th minute when Oscar Santis scored with a powerful right-footed shot from the center of the box, earning a draw with Panama.
Carlos Harvey scored the equalizer for Panama in the 37th minute, heading the ball into the bottom right corner from the center of the box, assisted by Eric Davis.
With this result, Panama extended their unbeaten run against Guatemala to 15 matches across all competitions since 2005, including 11 wins and four draws.
FAQ
Which teams played in the recent World Cup qualifying matches?
Suriname, El Salvador, Panama, and Guatemala were involved in the latest qualifying fixtures.
What was the outcome of Suriname’s match?
Suriname achieved a significant win in their World Cup qualifying match against El Salvador.
How did the Panama vs Guatemala match end?
The match between Panama and Guatemala ended in a draw.
Who scored the equalizer for Panama?
Carlos Harvey scored the equalizer for Panama in the 37th minute with a header from Eric Davis’ assist.
How long has Panama remained unbeaten against Guatemala?
Panama has been unbeaten against Guatemala in all competitions since 2005, spanning 15 matches.