Concacaf Gold Cup: Guatemala Downs Canada to reach semi -finals after 29 years

José Morales sent Guatemala to the semi-final of the Concacaf Gold Cup with the clincher over Canada in a 6-5 penalty shootout victory on Sunday.

It was the equalizer of Rubio Rubín that forced extra time-the score in extra time-with a header in the 69th minute for Guatemala, who is 106th in the FIFA rankings and reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1996.

Guatemala will meet the United States in St. Louis on Wednesday, while Mexico Honduras plays in the other semi -final in Santa Clara, California.

The champion finale is in Houston on July 6.

The seven-round shootout was a suitable end of a fast and spicy competition that perished as one of the best of this biennial tournament for North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

The blue-white dressed fans of Guatemala flowed to the US Bank Stadium and made the announced crowd of 32,289 sound almost as a sold-out NFL game in the house of the Minnesota Vikings with the transparent roof.

Jonathan David scored on a penalty kick in the 30th minute for the 30th ranking list Canada, who won his group with two wins and one draw but had to play the second half with 10 men. Canada was bounced from the quarterfinals in four of the last five Gold Cup tournaments.

Canada Vooruit Jacob Sheffelburg was ejected in the first half of the stopping time for a second yellow card, after he had lowered his elbow during a collision in the air for the ball that Guatemala defender Stheven knocked on the ground.

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Dayne St. Clair, an MLS All-Star, who plays just a few miles away for Minnesota United, made two saves for the Reds in regulations against a consistent attack from Guatemala, who had a 11-5 lead in shot attempts and a 58 percent possession percentage.

Oscar Santis had a shot for Guatemala just outside the box of a high-bouncing ball that he started over the top of the net in the 53rd minute, but he set up Rubín’s header with a Textbook Cross from the left sideline.

Guatemala, who finished second in his group with two wins and one loss, finished second during the Penalty-Kick Thriller and almost blew when José Pinto sailed his shot over the net after Kennerson Navarro Cyle Larin’s attempt stopped starting the sixth round.

After the shot of Luc Rollet bounced for Canada from the bar, the defender pulled his shirt in frustration over his face. Then Morales won by dying, while St. Clair dived.