Canada faced an unexpected exit from the Concacaf Gold Cup during Sunday’s quarterfinals, losing in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw with Guatemala.
Jesse Marsh’s squad initially took the lead when Jonathan David converted a penalty 30 minutes into the match. However, momentum shifted after Jacob Schaffelberg received a red card just before halftime, having gotten a second yellow for a foul against Steleven Robles.
Guatemala equalized in the 69th minute through Rubio Rubin, a former US men’s national team player who recently switched to represent Guatemala. A well-placed cross from Oscar Santis set up Rubin, who headed the ball into the net to level the score.
With the match tied, it proceeded to penalties, where Guatemala triumphed 6-5 after a tense shootout. While all of the first seven shooters successfully converted, Cyle Larin of Canada missed, allowing Jose Morales from Guatemala to clinch the win and advance to the semifinals.
This marks Guatemala’s first Gold Cup semifinal appearance since 1969, highlighting Canada’s disappointing early exit.
As one of three host nations for the upcoming World Cup, Jesse Marsh’s team had high expectations, especially after achieving success in last year’s Copa America. Additionally, they were missing star left wingback Alphonso Davies, who is recovering from an ACL injury sustained in a March match against the US men’s team.
Despite starting the tournament with a commanding 6-0 win over Honduras, Canada’s path to the quarterfinals included a difficult 1-1 draw against Curacao and a narrow 2-0 victory over El Salvador aided by a red card.
Fan Take: This loss is a sobering reminder of the competition’s unpredictability and raises questions about Canada’s ability to shine on the international front. For soccer fans, it underscores the importance of depth and resilience in a team, particularly with the World Cup on the horizon.
