FRISCO, Texas – Alex Roldan scored in his El Salvador debut to help earn his side a 2-0 victory over Guatemala in Group A of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup on Sunday night at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
With the result, El Salvador sit atop Group A with three points.
It was a hard-fought first 45 minutes between the two sides, with El Salvador generating more chances through playmakers Joshua Perez and Juan Portillo, but unable to land something on target to trouble Guatemala MF Nicholas Hagen.
Shortly before halftime, the best chance of the half came for Guatemala on a counterattack in which Jairo Arreola had a good crack at goal, but saw his effort sail over the crossbar.
El Salvador continued to press forward and after a wayward Jairo Henriquez header in front of goal in the 55’, Portillo looked set to break the deadlock in the 61’, only to see his left-footed shot sail wide.
MF Marvin Monterroza was next to have a look at goal in the 75’ after some good work from Perez, but the Guatemalan defense would not crack.
The breakthrough would finally come in the 81’ for El Salvador, as a ball fell to the feet of Alexander Roldan, whose right-footed shot rocketed into net to hand El Salvador a 1-0 advantage.
⚽🇸🇻 ¡GOL DE @LaSelecta_SLV! El ingresado Roldán rompe por fin el cero con un potente derechazo y le da el triunfo parcial a su selección frente a @fedefut_oficial.#CopaOro21 🏆 #EstoEsNuestro pic.twitter.com/ZrQztkmUBG
— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) July 12, 2021
Guatemala looked to respond and Darwin Lom was presented with a chance in stoppage time, but was denied by El Salvador GK Mario Gonzalez.
El Salvador then capped off the night with a goal in the final seconds, as Joaquin Rivas took a pass from Walter Martinez and deposited a left-footed shot into net to complete the 2-0 scoreline.
⚽🇸🇻 ¡GOOOOL DE @LaSelecta_SLV! Tras una buena jugada colectiva, Rivas define de zurda y sentencia el duelo ante @fedefut_oficial en Texas.#CopaOro21 🏆 #EstoEsNuestro pic.twitter.com/4IMaLVpOTF
— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) July 12, 2021
