EAST RUTHERFORD, Jul 22 (SW) - Panama jumped out early and never looked back en route to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final as they defeated Colombia 3-2 at Giants Stadium on Thursday night, clinching their first-ever berth in the competition's championship game.

Colombia 2-3 Panama

Panama jumped out early on Colombia, Ricardo Phillips giving his side an early lead against their southern neighbors. Julio Medina's free kick was met with the back of Phillips head, putting the ball beyond Colombia goalkeeper Farid Mondragón.

Just 12 minutes later, Panama found themselves up by two goals when Luís Moreno's brilliant run through the Colombian defense led to a volley by Jorge Luís Dely Valdés which was on target.

About a quarter-hour later, Colombia, already in a rut, found themselves down to ten men when Humberto Mendoza was sent off for an elbow against Valdés. The favor was returned early in the second half when Luís Moreno received his second yellow and Panama were down to ten.

Colombia got onto the scoreboard in the 63rd when Jairo Patiño converted a brilliant setup by Tressor Moreno, but Panama restored their two-goal advantage no more than ten minutes later when Phillips' perfectly-placed shot went inside the far post of Mondragón.

Patiño got his second one minute from time and Colombia had a chance for an equalizer late, but Tressor Moreno smacked a shot against the post, sending Panama through to face the United States on Sunday at Giants Stadium. The Americans just recently defeated Panama 3-0 in Panama City in a World Cup qualifier.

Colombia: Farid Mondragón (GK); José Julián de la Cuesta, Humberto Mendoza, Yulian Anchico; Juan Fernando Leal (Aldo Leo Ramírez 35), Jairo Patiño, Abel Aguilar; Oscar Enrique Passo, Jaime Castrillón (Jaír Benítez 46); Wason Rentería (Martín Arzuaga 63), Tressor Moreno.

Panama: Jaime Penedo (GK); Carlos Rivera, Luís Moreno, José Anthony Torres, Felipe Baloy; Alberto Blanco, Ricardo Phillips, Julio Medina (Luís Alfonso Henríquez 69), Gabriel Gómez (Engin Mitre 63); Jorge Luís Dely Valdés (Ubaldo Gustavo Guardia 55), Luís Tejada.

Goals: Patiño 63, 89; Phillips 12, 73, Dely Valdés 26.

Cautions: Leal 33; Gómez 13, L. Moreno 15, 52, Baloy 20, Mitre 79.

Sent off: Mendoza 39; L. Moreno 52.