Curacao, Haiti are surprising survivors into quarterfinals
The 2019 Gold Cup quarterfinals will feature a mix of history and championship pedigree when the knockout stage begins Saturday.
On Saturday at NRG Stadium, Canada will face Haiti at 6 p.m. and Costa Rica will play Mexico at 8:30 p.m. The following day in Philadelphia, the United States will compete against Curacao (7:30 p.m.) after Jamaica plays Panama (4:30 p.m.).
Haiti had never won its group since CONCACAF transitioned from the CONCACAF Championship to the Gold Cup starting with the 1991 competition. That year the country didn’t qualify, but almost three decades later, the Haitians made history by sweeping Group B.
“This Haiti is a new Haiti,” forward Duckens Nazon said after the team’s comeback win over Costa Rica to secure the group. “I’m really proud and I’ve got no words.”
Haiti’s next opponent traveled a different road. Led by the competition’s leading scorer, Jonathan David (five goals), the Canadians entered the tournament with high expectations, although a 3-1 loss to Mexico relegated the team to a second-place finish in Group A.
After allowing two goals in group play — tied for second with Curacao — Haiti will be tested by a Canadian side that finished the group stage ranked second in scoring (12 goals through three games). Later Saturday, Costa Rica will play the team that scored more goals than Canada: Mexico (13).
Despite missing some of its stars, the Group A winners entered the tournament as the favorites and swept through their group, propelled by a 7-0 thrashing of Cuba. Mexico’s Uriel Antuna has been one of the Gold Cup’s most dangerous players, ranking in the top two in goals (four) and assists (two).
Costa Rica pushed hard to win its final group-stage match against Haiti — presumably in an effort to avoid Mexico — but a late goal sealed its fate. Coach Gustavo Matosas’ record has slipped below .500 since taking the reins for Costa Rica last fall, but the quarterfinal match offers his team a chance at a statement win.
Sunday’s matches will feature the 2017 Gold Cup champion (the U.S.) and runner-up (Jamaica). The United States had been considered co-favorites until a pair of losses in friendlies to Jamaica and Venezuela lowered their expectations.
In response, new coach Gregg Berhalter’s squad won its first two group-stage matches over Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago by a combined 10-0.
Columbus Crew forward Gyasi Zardes leads the team with three goals, but star midfielder Christian Pulisic has been equally productive with a goal and two assists. Future Manchester City keeper Zack Steffen is the only keeper to enter the knockout stage with three clean sheets.
Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room could argue he’s been the tournament’s top keeper after patrolling the net well enough to lift Curacao to its first Gold Cup win in the group stage. After a 1-0 opening loss to El Salvador, Room made 13 saves to shut out — and eliminate — a Honduran side led by Dynamo forward Alberth Elis. Room made two saves against Jamaica but it was enough to secure the 1-1 draw, enabling the Caribbean country of 161,000 to advance.
Jamaica, which won Group C over second-place Curacao, enters its match against Panama with forwards rested after its regulars sat out the draw with Curacao. The team will look to reach the semifinals after losing in the past two Gold Cup finals.
Jamaican players such as Leon Bailey, Shemar Nicholson and Kemar Lawrence could present problems for a Panamanian back line that features former Dynamo defender Adolfo Machado.
For its part, Panama won two of three in the group stage before losing 1-0 to an American side that started many of its non-regulars having secured its spot in the quarterfinals.