Ten-man Canada exits CONCACAF Gold Cup after penalty shootout loss to Guatemala

National Post

11 hours ago

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The first half was entertaining with the 30th-ranked Canadians attacking from the get-go and No. 106 Guatemala responding with the occasional counter-attack. Canada won six corners in the first 20 minutes.
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Costa Rican referee Keylor Herrera pointed to the penalty spot in the 27th minute when Tani Oluwaseyi, put behind the defence by a pinpoint Richie Laryea pass, went down in the box. The contact with Aaron Herrera, a former CF Montreal player, was minimal but the decision passed video review.
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Jonathan David, who had a penalty saved the previous game against El Salvador, made no mistake this time. He found the corner of the goal for his 36th goal in 67 appearances, adding to his Canadian men's scoring record.
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It was his second goal in as many games at the tournament and his Canada-leading eighth, along with three assists, in eight career Gold Cup games.
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Canada coach Jesse Marsch made two changes to his starting 11 with St. Clair, who played the first two Group B games before giving way to Max Crepeau, returning in goal and Oluwaseyi replacing Promise David up front.
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The Canadian starting 11 went into the game with a combined 353 caps with David (66 caps), Laryea (64), Alistair Johnston (55) and Tajon Buchanan (50) accounting for 235 of them. Buchanan, who was seen clutching the back of his leg in the first half, gave way to Jebbison in the 58th minute.
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Navarro started in goal for Guatemala in place of the injured Nicho Hagen, a backup with the Columbus Crew, and did well, commanding his penalty box and initiating Guatemala attacks with savvy ball distribution.
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Canada came into the game with 10-2-2 all-time record against Guatemala was unbeaten in the previous five meetings (4-0-1), dating back to a 2-0 loss in August 2004 in World Cup qualifying in Burnaby, B.C. The teams played to a scoreless draw the last time they met, in group play at the 2023 Gold Cup.
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Canada defeated Honduras 6-0, tied No. 90 Curacao 1-1 and dispatched No. 81 El Salvador 2-0 to win Group B. Guatemala finished runner-up to No. 33 Panama in Group C, beating No. 63 Jamaica 1-0 and unranked Guadeloupe 3-2 and losing 1-0 to Panama.
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Canada, which won the tournament in 2000, had made the quarterfinals in the last four editions of the Gold Cup but had only advanced once — in 2021 when it lost 2-1 to Mexico in the semifinal after beating Costa Rica 2-0.