FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Guatemala clinched second place in Group B and a berth in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals with a 1-1 draw against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday night at Gillette Stadium.
Trinidad survived a first-half red card to Dwyane Jack and an 84th minute goal by Carlos Ruiz to earn a point with an 87th minute Errol McFarlane tally.
The first half featured a lot of play in the midfield as both teams struggled to really find the cutting thrust necessary to find the game's first goal. It was a tense struggle in the middle of the park as both teams fought to find the foothold necessary to gain control of the match.
The match sparked to life in the 29th minute as Trinidad and Tobago was reduced to ten men. As Trinidad defender Dwyane Jack and Guatemalan midfielder Jose Contreras went in to challenge a ball along the sideline, Jack raised his elbow into Contreras's face. The result was a straight red card from referee Jose Pineda.
But it was Trinidad who found the ascendancy heading into the break and nearly found the game's first goal in stoppage time.
After Leonel Noriega's foul drew a yellow card and a free kick from 25 yards, Trent Noel stepped up and lashed his resulting effort off the right post. Andre Toussaint was first to the rebound, but he could not turn his effort from inside six yards into the gaping net.
With both teams needing points to ensure passage to the quarterfinals, the second half opened up and invited attacking play.
Guatemala carved out the first chance after the halftime interval in the 53rd minute. From a dead ball situation, the ball was played into the box and captain Gustavo Cabrera managed to poke it into the net. As the celebrations rampaged, the flag of assistant referee Roberto Giron ruled the effort out for offside and the match remained scoreless.
Toussaint came close once again in the 63rd minute. His ambitious running found space inside the Guatemalan penalty area. After creating a one versus one opportunity with Guatemalan goalkeeper Ricardo Trigueno, Toussaint found his shot saved by the Guatemalan stopper.
Guatemala should have scored in the 71st minute. After earning a corner kick, the clearance fell to the feet of Henry Medina. Medina took it well off the half volley, but Trinidad goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams did well to save the first attempt. The rebound fell right to the feet of Carlos Quinones, but he managed to shank his effort from four yards wide of the post.
Williams was called into action again four minutes later as Carlos Ruiz was released inside the Trinidad penalty box, but Ruiz's effort was right into the Trinidad goalkeeper.
But Ruiz finally broke through and ensured Guatemala's place in the quarterfinals in the 84th minute. It was a deliberate and well-worked move from the Guatemalans that started with Edwin Villatoro in the middle. His distribution out wide right to Martin Avila was quickly played back by Avila to Ruiz 12 yards from goal. The striker calmly slotted home with the outside of his right foot into the far corner.
Trinidad had a reply just two minutes later. Crosses from the right flank had been dangerous throughout the second half, and the Trinidadians made it count. The service from Kerry Baptiste was swung directly onto the penalty spot, and substitute McFarlane rose above Trigueno to head home.
McFarlane nearly gave Trinidad the win in stoppage time, but his header sneaked just wide of the right post, condemning Trinidad to elimination.
Miller Lite Player of the Match: Carlos Trigueno (Guatemala)
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
