Pre-tournament favourites Argentina have been held to a 2-2 draw by Panama during an entertaining Under-20 World Cup clash in Wellington tonight.
The damp conditions couldn't take away from the enthusiasm of either side as they both attacked throughout the contest.
Argentina were tipped to ease through the pool stages but Panama had other ideas and could have taken the game but striker Carlos Small spurned a golden chance in the 86th minute. A draw was probably a fair outcome given both teams had their moments.
Argentine captain Angel Correa, who stood out on the field as the only player wearing plain black boots, netted the opening goal of the game as he produced a nice finish in the 14th minute.
That goal signalled Argentina had come to play but Panama, known as the Red Tide, got back on level terms when Jhamal Rodriguez put the ball in the top corner from well outside the box.
Panama have a squad that includes five senior internationals and that experience proved useful as they weren't intimidated by their more-fancied opponents.
Argentina had their opportunities in the first spell but they couldn't convert as the sides went to the break at 1-1.
The second half meandered along until Correa completed his brace in the 79th minute, which looked to be the winner, but Panama defender Fidel Escobar had other ideas as his impressive strike earned his side a draw.
Group B, which also includes Austria and Ghana, remains wide open.
Argentina 2 (Angel Correa 14, 79) Panama 2 (Jhamal Rodriguez 19, Fidel Escobar 84) halftime: 1-1
- by Daniel Richardson of NZME. News Service
