Gallardo’s Ecuador scored for the first time but left Tokyo without victory. However, the second-half response offered encouragement despite the painful penalty finish.

Ecuador vs Panama ended 1-1 on Monday, October 5, before Panama won the shootout 7-6. Juan Riquelme Angulo equalised, then Eddie Roberts saved his decisive penalty. Meanwhile, La Tri finished fourth in the Kirin Cup 2026. Gallardo’s challenge involves turning promising spells into complete performances.
Ecuador vs Panama ends a winless tour
The third place match at Tokyo’s National Stadium closed Ecuador’s three game trip. Panama claimed third place after neither side found a winner during regulation time.
Gallardo’s opening assignment had brought a 3-0 friendly defeat against South Korea. Subsequently, Ecuador drew 0-0 with Japan before losing that semifinal shootout 5-4. Therefore, the tour produced one regulation-time defeat and two draws, followed by two unsuccessful shootouts. The South Korea match took place outside the four-team Kirin tournament.
That distinction matters when assessing the new coach’s start. Ecuador improved enough to avoid another defeat within 90 minutes, but still failed to secure a win. Moreover, Angulo supplied the team’s only regulation time goal across those three fixtures. His finish ended the scoring drought without resolving the wider attacking problem.
Vergara punishes Ecuador before halftime
Josué Vergara put Panama ahead in the 38th minute after a cross from the left. The attacker needed a second attempt to beat Gonzalo Valle inside the area.
El Universo’s match report describes Ecuador’s difficulty creating danger before the break. Meanwhile, Panama’s pressure complicated Ecuador’s attempts to move possession forward from defence.
Excelente pase al área de Jorge Gutierrez para el gol de Panamá vs Ecuador por la Copa Kirin. https://t.co/wflWY6jQOE
— Adrian (@adrianstats) October 5, 2026
Vergara’s finish rewarded an attack that reached a dangerous central position. Ecuador then entered halftime needing both an equaliser and a more effective route toward goal.
However, the problem extended beyond the final shot. When progression stalls, forwards receive fewer useful passes and opponents can defend the next action more comfortably.
Four changes produce Angulo’s first goal
Gallardo introduced John Yeboah, Pedro Vite, Nilson Angulo, and Juan Riquelme Angulo at halftime. They replaced Jordy Caicedo, Jordy Alcívar, John Mercado, and Alan Minda, respectively.
The JFA’s official match record confirms those four changes and the equaliser at 58 minutes. Moreover, the goal gave Juan Riquelme his first senior international strike.
Gool de Ecuador 🇪🇨!! Empate Ecuador 1 vs 1 Panamá #Teleamazonas https://t.co/40oMyZBkat
— DE TV A YOUTUBE (@DETVAYOUTUBE) October 5, 2026
Yeboah and Anthony Valencia contributed to the move before Angulo finished with his right foot. Ecuador moved forward quickly and finally converted an attack into a goal. As a result, the Angulo equaliser offered evidence that the new combinations could work. Gallardo had changed several attacking connections rather than making a single isolated replacement.
Eight penalties each settle third place
Panama took the first penalty, and each team eventually attempted eight. Ecuador converted six, while its opponents scored seven to claim the shootout.
Anthony Valencia failed with Ecuador’s second attempt, but Víctor Griffith also missed for Panama. Therefore, both sides remained level after completing their initial five penalties. Willian Pacho and Fricio Caicedo then converted as the contest continued. Meanwhile, César Blackman and Giovany Herbert kept Panama in front whenever their turns arrived.
⚠️🇪🇨🇵🇦 ECUADOR PERDIÓ POR PENALES ANTE PANAMÁ EN EL TERCER AMISTOSO. ❌ 0-3 vs Corea ❌ 0(4)-(5)0 vs Japón ❌ 1(6)-(7)1 vs Panamá https://t.co/Dtfr983gYp
— Ecuagol (@ECUAGOL) October 5, 2026
Daivis Murillo scored Panama’s eighth attempt before Roberts denied Juan Riquelme Angulo. The save ended the contest with Ecuador one successful kick short.
FEPAFUT’s shootout record confirms two saves from Roberts and seven Panama conversions. Consequently, the final separation came from execution and goalkeeping after the regulation-time draw. Ecuador vs Panama therefore produced two distinct scorelines: 1-1 during the match and 6-7 in the shootout. Penalty goals do not change the scoring record from open play and set pieces during regulation.
Roberts gives Panama the decisive advantage
The Panama goalkeeper influenced both distinct stages of the contest. First, his saves protected the draw while Ecuador pushed forward after halftime. Then Roberts stopped two penalties, including the attempt that settled third place. That sequence explains his importance more clearly than the shootout result alone.
Panama also recovered from Griffith’s miss and continued converting its remaining attempts. Moreover, its later takers maintained pressure by scoring before Ecuador responded.
Thomas Christiansen’s team combined enough resistance during the match with stronger execution afterward. The outcome rewards those contributions without suggesting Panama controlled the whole second half.
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