MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — José Morales sent Guatemala to the semifinals of the with the clincher over Canada in a 6-5 penalty-kick decision after a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Rubio RubÃn scored the tying goal with a header in the 69th minute for Guatemala, which is 106th in the FIFA rankings and reached the semifinals for the first time since 1996. Guatemala will meet the United States in St. Louis on Wednesday, while plays in the other semifinal in Santa Clara, California. The championship is in Houston on July 6.
The seven-round shootout was a fitting end to a fast-paced and feisty contest that went down as one of the best of this biennial tournament for North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The blue-and-white-clad fans of Guatemala flocked to U.S. Bank Stadium and made the announced crowd of 32,289 sound almost like a sold-out NFL game inside the home of the Minnesota Vikings with the translucent roof.
Jonathan David scored on a penalty kick in the 30th minute for 30th-ranked Canada, which won its group with two wins and one draw but had to play the second half with 10 men. Canada has been bounced from the quarterfinals in four of the last five Gold Cup tournaments.
Canada forward Jacob Sheffelburg was ejected in first-half stoppage time for a second yellow card, after lowering his elbow during a mid-air collision for the ball that knocked Guatemala defender Stheven Robles to the ground.
Dayne St. Clair, an MLS All-Star who plays just a few miles away for Minnesota United, made two saves for the Reds in regulation against a consistent if erratic attack as Guatemala had an 11-5 edge in shot attempts and a 58% possession rate.
Oscar Santis had a shot for Guatemala from just outside the box off a high-bouncing ball that he booted over the top of the net in the 53rd minute, but he set up RubÃn's header with a textbook cross from the left sideline.
Guatemala, which finished second in its group with two wins and one loss, went second during the penalty-kick thriller and nearly blew it when José Pinto sailed his shot over the net after Kenderson Navarro stopped Cyle Larin's attempt to start the sixth round.
After Luc Rollet's shot for Canada bounced off the crossbar, the defender pulled his shirt up over his face in frustration. Then Morales won it by going dead center as St. Clair dived left.
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AP soccer:
Dave Campbell, The Associated Press
