CINCINNATI, Ohio – A pair of sides in full flight will square off in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup on Sunday evening, as Guatemala take on Jamaica at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two nations, with all four previous contests ending in Jamaica’s favor, the most recent being a 2-0 victory in the group stage of the 2011 edition.
There are some interesting personal coincidences in this match-up as well. Onandi Lowe, the father of current Jamaica player Damion Lowe, scored in a 2003 Gold Cup match between the two countries, while Guatemala’s Nathaniel Mendez will be going up against his father’s homeland.
The 2011 tournament was the last time Guatemala had reached the knockout round until the current edition. The Chapines have produced a magical group stage performance in 2023, claiming seven points on the strength of a 1-0 win over Cuba, a 0-0 draw against Canada and a come-from-behind 3-2 thriller of a win against Guadeloupe to secure first place in Group D.
Stock photo of the most recent encounter between Guatemala and Jamaica in the Concacaf Gold Cup, showing Carlos Ruiz of Guatemala at the FIU Stadium in Miami, Florida on June 10, 2011.
Rubio Rubin led the way with a pair of goals in that group stage finale, while GK Nicholas Hagen came through in a big spot by saving a Guadeloupe penalty in the final minutes to seal the Guatemala triumph, giving him 11 saves in the tournament.
Jamaica’s attack has clicked into gear after an opening 1-1 draw against the United States. Subsequent victories over Trinidad and Tobago (4-1) and Saint Kitts and Nevis (5-0) cemented a second-place finish in Group A for the Reggae Boyz.
Demarai Gray has hit the ground running in his first official tournament with Jamaica in supplying two goals and an assist.
Perhaps most noteworthy for Jamaica thus far in the tournament is that eight different players account for the team’s 10 goals, including Leon Bailey, who has also chipped in with two assists and DiShon Bernard, who had a goal and five ball recoveries in the group stage finale against the Sugar Boyz.
Jamaica leads the all-time series GP-16 W-10 D-3 L-3 (GF-30 GA-18).
HEAD-TO-HEAD IN GOLD CUP
5th time in Concacaf Gold Cup. Jamaica leads the all-time series GP-4 W-4 D-0 L-0 (GF-11 GA-5).
Guatemala 2-3 Jamaica (Juan Carlos Plata, Edwin Westphal; Paul Hall x2, Andy Williams), Group A, Gold Cup 1998, LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles (8-FEB).
Guatemala 0-2 Jamaica (Onandi Lowe, Andy Williams), Group B, Gold Cup 2003, Orange Bowl, Miami (15-JUL).
Guatemala 3-4 Jamaica (Carlos Ruíz x3; Luton Shelton, Ricardo Fuller, Andy Williams, Jermaine Hue), Group C, Gold Cup 2005, Home Depot Center, Carson (9-JUL).
Jamaica 2-0 Guatemala (Demar Phillips x2), Group B, Gold Cup 2011, FIU Stadium, Miami (10-JUN).
Match Officials Guatemala vs Jamaica
5:00 PM Sunday July 9, 2023 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Referee: DREW FISCHER (Canada)
1st Assistant Referee: MICHEAL BARWEGEN (Canada)
2nd Assistant Referee: CALEB WALES (Trinidad and Tobago)
4th Official: JOSEPH DICKERSON (USA)
VAR: EDVIN JURISEVIC (USA)
AVAR1: TIM FORD (USA)
