El Salvador advance in CONCACAF Gold Cup

FOXBORO: Marvin Gonzalez’s goal 14 minutes from time gave El Salvador a 1-0 victory over Martinique in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Wednesday, securing a quarter-final tie against Costa Rica. Earlier, Costa Rica clinched their place in the last eight with a 3-0 victory over Cuba.

El Salvador and Martinique both went into their Group C match needing a win to progress. Martinique fielded an amateur side with the exception of goalkeeper Eddy Heurlie, a reserve with relegated French Ligue 1 team Troyes. Jose Gordon almost gave Martinique a 36th-minute lead but his shot was well saved by goalkeeper Juan Gomez. At the other end, Heurlie made several stops before Gonzalez finally struck. Heurlie saved substitute William Alegria’s point-blank shot but the ball fell kindly for Gonzalez to tap in from 10 metres. Costa Rica, who also needed a win to stay in the competition, powered through thanks to their 3-0 victory over Cuba in Group D.

A brilliant strike from Walter Centeno in first-half stoppage time gave Costa Rica the lead before substitutes Steven Bryce and Erick Scott put the game beyond Cuba, who now meet the US, the defending champions, in the last eight. Despite dominating from the start, the Costa Ricans took a long time to make their superiority tell. Winston Parks struck the post in the third minute while Centeno headed a cross from Rolando Fonseca against the bar 12 minutes later. Cuba’s best chance came on 33 minutes when Jeniel Marquez unleashed a shot from 22 metres that goalkeeper Ricardo Gonzalez did well to fist away. Costa Rica eventually broke through when Carlos Castro’s corner was volleyed in by Centeno from 18 metres. Bryce, who replaced Wilmer Lopez in the 72nd minute, doubled the lead almost immediately by slamming in a shot from 14 metres. Five minutes later, Costa Rica made it 3-0 when Scott pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area.