RECAP+HIGHLIGHTS: CanMNT’s trophy drought lives on after falling to Guatemala on penalties in Gold Cup quarter-final
For the second straight Gold Cup, the CanMNT bowed out of the quarter-finals on penalties, as they fell 1-1 (6-5 on penalties) to Guatemala on Sunday.
Despite entering this match as strong favourites, Canada came up short when it mattered most, as they were unable to survive an outstanding performance from Guatemala, who have reached the semi-finals of this tournament for just the second time in their history.
Now, it leaves Canada in a tough position ahead of the World Cup next summer, as they’ve missed out on the chance to play some hugely important games over the next week, with this Gold Cup marking their last competitive matches before the start of next year’s festivities.
After having fallen to Mexico in the Nations League semi-finals, they wanted to bounce back in a big way this tournament, as they looked to lift their first trophy since they won the Gold Cup in 2000. Armed with a strong squad, Canada seemed ready to make a deep run, one they knew they needed to make ahead of the World Cup.
Instead, they’re left exiting the tournament much earlier than hoped after a big upset, leaving them with plenty of crucial questions to answer over the next 12 months. For example, there is legitimate worry about their ability to win big matches, making it frustrating to see them miss out on making a deep run in this tournament, where they could’ve gotten some good practice in that department.
Yet, it shows that while Canada have certainly taken big strides forward as a team over the last few years, as they’re deeper and more talented than ever, there is still plenty of work to be done for them to fulfill their potential over the next 12 months. That’s just raised the stakes for what lies ahead for them in the next year, in which they’ll have to knuckle down, get ready to battle and make some tough decisions that try and get them closer to reaching their ceiling.
Returning to this match, Tajon Buchanan almost opened the scoring for Canada in the sixth minute, as he got on the end of a Jacob Shaffelburg cross that found him after a deflection inside the box, but he sent his shot well over the goal despite being wide-open at the back post.
At the other end, Guatemala had a fantastic chance in the 7th minute, as Rubio Rubin Méndez found Oscar Santis with a nice cutback, but Santis’s shot would be nicely saved by Canada’s Dayne St.Clair, who palmed the shot off the post.
Meanwhile, Canada had another excellent chance in the 14th minute, coming after a bit of an over-aggressive play from Guatemalan goalkeeper Kénderson Navarro. From there, Jonathan David found Tani Oluwaseyi with a beautiful cross, but despite having an empty net to head the ball at, Oluwaseyi’s header would be kept out by a great block from Guatemala’s Aaron Herrera.
Soon after, however, Canada would find their opening goal in the 30th minute. Once again, Oluwaseyi was involved, as he did well to win a penalty after some beautiful interplay from Canada. As a result, David stepped up to take his second penalty in two games, but unlike his attempt vs El Salvador in Canada’s last group stage game, which was saved, he tucked this one into the bottom right corner to put his team up 1-0.
Continuing a strong sequence, Canada almost made it 2-0 in the 34th minute, as Derek Cornelius got on the end of a great set-piece delivery from Mathieu Choinière, but his header was saved by Navarro.
Unfortunately for Canada, things got a lot harder for them right before half time, as Jacob Shaffelburg was sent off after earning a second yellow card, putting Canada down a player for the rest of the game, a decision that loomed large.
Thanks to that advantage, Guatemala were able to grow into the game, and found an equalizer in the 69th minute. Following an outstanding cross from Santis, he found the head of Rubin Méndez, and he steered a powerful header into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
Despite being down a player, Canada continued to push and almost had a goal in the 80th minute, as Nathan Saliba got on the end of a nice through ball from Jonathan David, but his tight-angle shot flashed just wide of the far post.
Meanwhile, Guatemala almost found a winner in the third minute of stoppage time, as Santis got on the end of a cross towards the back post on the second phase of a throw-in, but he sent his shot just wide of the near post.
From there, however, the game went to penalties.
In the shootout, both teams held their nerve through the first four rounds, but then Guatemala had a huge chance to win in the fifth round, as Cyle Larin saw his penalty saved, but then Jose Pinto ended up missing when given the chance to win.
In the seventh round, however, Canada gave Guatemala another chance to win, as Luc De Fougerolles’s penalty slammed off the crossbar, and José Morales stepped up and converted the winning penalty for his team.
With that, Guatemala will now face either the US or Costa Rica in the semi-finals, while Canada will be left to regroup before playing a couple of European-based friendlies vs. Romania and Wales in the fall.
No doubt, however, that this is a loss that will leave deep scars, ones that Canada will hope don’t impact what lies ahead for them in the next year.
Box Score
Lineup:
Canada: St.Clair; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Sigur (Saliba 71’), Choinière; Buchanan (Jebbison 58’), Shaffelburg; J.David (P.David 90+1’), Oluwaseyi (Larin 71’)
Guatemala: Navarro; Herrera, Pinto, Samayoa, Morales; Robles, Rosales (Saravia 82’), Muñoz (Ordonez 71’); Escobar (Altan 71’), Rubin Méndez (Lom 77’), Santis
Goals
30 – Jonathan David (Canada)(Penalty)
69 – Rubio Rubin Méndez (Guatemala)
Penalty Shootout:
Round 1:
Canada: Promise David – GOAL
Guatemala: Oscar Santis – GOAL
Round 2:
Canada: Daniel Jebbison – GOAL
Guatemala: Nicolas Samayoa – GOAL
Round 3:
Canada: Derek Cornelius – GOAL
Guatemala: Aaron Herrera – GOAL
Round 4:
Canada: Mathieu Choinière – GOAL
Guatemala: Darwin Lom – GOAL
Round 5:
Canada: Cyle Larin – MISS
Guatemala: Jose Pinto – MISS
Round 6:
Canada: Nathan Saliba – GOAL
Guatemala: Pedro Altan – GOAL
Round 7:
Canada: Luc De Fougerolles – MISS
Guatemala: José Morales – GOAL
Discipline:
40’ – Yellow: Jacob Shaffelburg (Canada)
45+4’ – 2nd Yellow: Jacob Shaffelburg (Canada)
60’ – Yellow: Rubio Rubin Méndez (Guatemala)
Player of the Match:
Oscar Santis, Guatemala
Santis was excellent down the left for Guatemala, chipping in with an assist while converting his penalty in the shootout. He also had four shots, created two chances, completed one dribble and had three successful crosses in a lively attacking performance, while also chipping in with two tackles and five recoveries defensively.
What’s next?
Guatemala have advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025 Gold Cup, where they’ll face the winner of the quarter-final matchup between the US and Costa Rica on Wednesday, July 2nd at Energizer Park in St.Louis (4:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. ET).
