MIAMI, Florida – Group C of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off on Monday at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale Stadium with El Salvador squaring off with Prelims winner Martinique, while Costa Rica and Panama will tangle in a 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League rematch.
El Salvador vs. Martinique
For the first time in 20 years El Salvador and Martinique will meet in Gold Cup play to open up the action in Group C.
On that day in 2003, El Salvador collected a 1-0 victory against the Caribbean side and they would like nothing better than to achieve a similar result on Monday.
Participating in their 13th Gold Cup, El Salvador will be looking to reach the semifinals for the first time, but first they must navigate a difficult group beginning against Les Matinino.
The Cuscatlecos made history in the 2021 edition by winning two group stage games for the first time ever, and many of the same faces that starred on that squad are back in 2023, such as Alex Roldan, who scored in his Gold Cup debut in a 2-0 win versus Guatemala in 2021.
Another player to watch is FW Joshua Perez, who played all four matches for El Salvador in the 2021 Gold Cup and scored three goals in Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022.
Martinique reached Group C after taking down Saint Lucia (3-1) and Puerto Rico (2-0) in the Prelims, making this the fourth consecutive Gold Cup group stage for the island side.
Martinique plenty of strength in the back with GK Yannis Clementia, who registered 15 saves in the 2022-23 CNL, and DF Florent Poulolo, who completed 98 percent of his passes in the Prelims.
Going forward, Brighton Labeau and Enrick Reuperne have been effective, with Labeau scoring twice in the Prelims and Reuperne contributing two assists.
Match Officials El Salvador vs Martinique
Referee: ADONAI ESCOBEDO (Mexico)
1st Assistant Referee: CHRISTIAN ESPINOSA (Mexico)
2nd Assistant Referee: KAREN DIAZ (Mexico)
4th Official: RANDY ENCARNACION (Dominican Republic)
VAR: GUILLERMO PACHECO (Mexico)
AVAR1: ENRIQUE SANTANDER (Mexico)
Costa Rica vs. Panama
Two very familiar foes will play the nightcap at DRV PNK Stadium, as Costa Rica and Panama will meet for the second time in Gold Cup history in what was a 1-0 quarterfinal win for Costa Rica in 2017.
Another close encounter can be expected on Monday. The two teams were group opponents in the 2022-23 CNL during which Panama registered a pair of wins against the Ticos, 2-0 in Panama and then a dramatic 1-0 win in Costa Rica on the final matchday to clinch a berth in the 2022-23 CNL Finals.
Panama will look to leverage that momentum against Costa Rica to claim a full three points to open the tournament.
Edgar Barcenas had a pair of goals and an assist in the CNL, while Alberto Quintero will be playing in his sixth Gold Cup and has two career goals to his name. Not to be outdone is rising star Adalberto Carrasquilla, who manned the Panama midfield in the CNLF with authority.
Costa Rica will counter with a squad that is also heavy on Gold Cup experience, including FW Joel Campbell, who tallied two goals and supplied an assist in the 2021 Gold Cup.
Keysher Fuller is another player who could do damage to the Panamanian defense. He is brimming with confidence after scoring the winning goal in a group stage game against Japan in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and led all Costa Rica players in minutes played in the previous Gold Cup with 390 minutes.
Match Officials Costa Rica vs Panama
Referee: DREW FISCHER (Canada)
1st Assistant Referee: KATHRYN NESBITT (USA)
2nd Assistant Referee: MICHEAL BARWEGEN (Canada)
4th Official: JOSEPH DICKERSON (USA)
VAR: EDVIN JURISEVIC (USA)
AVAR1: CHRIS PENSO (USA)
Game Notes Costa Rica v Panama
