More SPORTS in brief

Panama secure quarter-final berth

SEATTLE (CMC):Panama scored a 1-0 victory over Martinique in Group A of their CONCACAF Gold Cup match at CenturyLink Field on Thursday night. Gabriel Torres converted a penalty kick in the 85th minute to give Panama their second win in two games, after shocking Mexico with a 2-1 win on the opening day of the tournament.

It was Torres' third goal of the tournament and it came after Martinique's Sebastien Cretinoir fouled Jairo Jimenez in the box, prompting referee Armando Castro to point to the penalty spot. Torres sent his 83rd-minute penalty kick to the left of a diving Martinique goalkeeper, Kevin Olimpa, who tried slapping the ball away with his right hand.

The victory over Martinique secures a quarter-final berth for Panama. Group A play ends with a double-header tomorrow in Denver. Panama will face Canada, while Martinique meet Mexico.

Mexico revive hopes

SEATTLE (CMC):Two-time defending champions Mexico defeated Canada 2-0 on Thursday night to revive their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign. Raul Jimenez scored in the 41st minute and Marco Fabian converted a penalty in the 57th to give Mexico the much-needed Group A victory.

The Mexicans have now picked up their first three points in a tournament they have won a record six times. The crowd of 28,345 came to life shortly before half-time when Luis Montes' corner kick found Jorge Enriquez, who flicked the ball in front of the goal for Jimenez to blast a header into the net.

Fabian doubled the lead in the second half with his shot from the penalty spot after he was taken down in the penalty area going after a pass from Rafael Marquez.

Wray & Nephew skittles to start July 21

The 2013 Wray & Nephew White Overproof Skittles competition commences on Sunday, July 21 with the launch at Bourbon House, 133 Windward Road, starting at 1 p.m. There will be 12 participating teams.

As was the case last year, the competition will be divided into two groups, the elite teams contesting the premier league and the lower-ranked teams playing in the major league.

Among the premier league campaigners are defending champions Mr C. 'A', along with former champions Eagles Strikers, Rowe's Strikers, Starliner, and Eastern All-Stars.

The competition will host Mr C 'A' and 'B' teams once again, while returning from a break are Mercury out of Spanish Town and Meadowvale from Portmore.