In a surprising turn of events on Sunday, Canada`s campaign in the Concacaf Gold Cup concluded in the quarterfinals. They were eliminated by Guatemala, who progressed after the match ended in a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time, leading to a decisive penalty shootout which Canada lost.
Jesse Marsch`s squad initially took the lead around the 30-minute mark when Jonathan David successfully converted a penalty. However, the game`s momentum shifted significantly in Guatemala`s favor just before halftime. Canada`s Jacob Shaffelburg received a red card during first-half stoppage time, his second yellow card of the match, for a foul on Stheven Robles, leaving his team with ten men for the remainder of the contest.
Guatemala found their equalizer in the 69th minute courtesy of Rubio Rubin. Rubin, who previously represented the United States national team on seven occasions before switching his international allegiance to Guatemala, connected with a precise cross from the left flank delivered by Oscar Santis. Unmarked in the six-yard box area, Rubin effectively headed the ball into the net, securing a deserved leveling goal for his side.
The match proceeded directly to a penalty shootout, which Guatemala ultimately won 6-5 following a tense sequence of kicks. The first seven penalty takers from both sides successfully converted their shots. Canada`s Cyle Larin then missed, but Guatemala`s Jose Carlos Pinto also failed to score from the spot. The crucial miss for Canada came from Luc de Fougerolles, allowing Jose Morales to score his penalty and send Guatemala through to the semifinals.
This victory marks Guatemala`s first appearance in the Gold Cup semifinals since 1969, an impressive achievement that stands in stark contrast to Canada`s unexpectedly early departure from the tournament.
As one of the co-hosts for the next FIFA World Cup, Canada, under Jesse Marsch, had positioned themselves as a rising force in North American soccer. They recently reached the semifinals of the Copa America and secured two wins against the USMNT. Their roster typically includes world-class talent such as Bayern Munich`s dynamic left wingback Alphonso Davies. However, Davies was unavailable for the Gold Cup, recovering from an ACL tear sustained in March during the Concacaf Nations League third-place match against the USMNT.
Despite beginning their Gold Cup journey convincingly with a dominant 6-0 win over Honduras, Canada`s path to the quarterfinals was not without difficulty. They were held to an unexpected 1-1 draw by Curacao, considered a regional underdog, and their 2-0 victory over El Salvador was influenced by an opposition player receiving a red card.
