Watch as Celtic’s Luis Palma answers critics with cheeky penalty as Honduras shock Panama in Gold Cup

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As the Celtic players return to pre-season, the 2024/25 campaign still isn’t over for some, and that’s including Luis Palma.

The 25-year-old started the season in Celtic colours, but he was then loaned out to Greek side Olympiacos during the January transfer window.

And now, Palma has been in action for Honduras, as they aim to secure glory at the Gold Cup, and they booked their semi-final ticket on Sunday morning.

The Central American outfit were the underdogs as they faced Panama in Arizona, and with some cheeky help from Palma, they are now 180 minutes away from winning their first Gold Cup since 1981.

• READ MORE: How Brendan Rodgers could reinvest over £2m of wages into the Celtic first-team by offloading three fringe players

Celtic’s Luis Palma nets a penalty as Honduras beat Panama in the Gold Cup quarter-final

Palma is out of favour at Celtic, and he also divides opinion when he dons the colours of his country, but he is certainly answering any critics now.

With Honduras looking like they were heading out, just after the hour mark, manager Reinaldo Rueda introduced Celtic’s fringe player into the action to try and change the course of the game, and that’s exactly what happened.

With eight minutes left on the clock, Anthony Lozano, a half-time sub, was wheeling away in celebration, alongside Palma, as Honduras provided a sucker punch to their much-fancied opponents.

There was no extra time here, and the game went straight to spot-kicks when it finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Panama scoring their first penalty, as Palma stepped up first for his country.

As you can see in the video below, posted by Concacaf’s official YouTube channel, at 3:30, Palma steps up by coolly, calmly and cheekily dinking the ball down the middle to set his team along the way.

Honduras would go on to win 5-4 on penalties, with Mexico now standing in their way of reaching the final.

Alistair Johnston to meet Palma in the final of the Gold Cup?

There is another Celtic representative in the Gold Cup, and that’s the popular Alistair Johnston.

It has been a chaotic tournament for Canada too, as Jesse Marsch’s side face Guatemala on Sunday evening (21:00, UK time) for a place in the last four.

Canada are favourites to progress here, and if that happens, then Johnston and Palma will be one game away from meeting each other in the final.

The United States of America and Costa Rica play their quarter-final match when the Canada-Guatemala match concludes.