MIAMI, Florida – It was a dramatic second day of Round of 16 action at the 2023 Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship in Guatemala, with Puerto Rico and El Salvador each advancing in thrilling fashion, while Honduras and Panama picked up clean sheet wins to book their quarterfinal spots.
Puerto Rico (1) 4 Costa Rica (1) 2
Puerto Rico and Costa Rica got the day going at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, but the fans had to wait until the 68’ for the game’s first goal, with Puerto Rico’s Samuel Byron scoring for a 1-0 lead to the Boricuas.
The Caribbean side looked like they would see things out to claim the win, but in the 90+1’ some good fortune smiled on the Ticos when an intended clearance from the Puerto Rican defense deflected off the head of Costa Rica’s Akheem Wilson and into goal for the 1-1 equalizer.
The goal gave Costa Rica a lift and they looked set to take the lead in the 107’ via the penalty spot, only to see Puerto Rico GK Sebastian Cuevas made the diving save.
Matters had to be settled in penalty kicks and Puerto Rico would emerge victorious with a 4-2 shootout win to advance to the final eight.
Penalties, Puerto Rico started shooting
Joel Rosa 1-0
Victor Moroto saved
Adrian Prado 2-0
Walter Ramirez saved
Gabriel Osorio 3-0
Mathías Castro 1-3
Juan Torres saved
Andrey Naranjo 2-3
Antonio Delgado 4-2
Panama 2 Cuba 0
The second match of the day in Guatemala City ended in a 2-0 victory for Panama over Cuba.
A red card to Cuba GK Yurixander Zayas in the 35’ gave the edge to the Canaleros and they ultimately took advantage with goals from Hector Rios in the 57’ and Kevin Walder in the 78’ to punch their quarterfinal ticket.
Honduras 6 Bermuda 0
The other two games took place at the Estadio Pensativo in Antigua and it was another prolific day in front of goal for Honduras, who topped Bermuda 6-0 with six different players finding the back of the net.
Goals from Russel Cruz (21’) and Edwin Munguia (24’) had the Catrachos off to a strong start. They were further aided by a red card to Bermuda’s Malachi Henry in the 25’ and used the man advantage to add another two goals before halftime through Roberto Osorto (27’) and Nixon Cruz (37’).
Honduras stayed in control and got another two goals from Jordan Garcia (54’) and Nayrobi Vargas (67’) to complete the 6-0 scoreline.
El Salvador 3 Trinidad and Tobago 2
There were plenty of fireworks in the nightcap in Antigua between El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago, starting with a rocket from distance from El Salvador’s Bryan Vasquez in the 3’.
The Soca Warriors responded in kind, as a calm finish from Rio Cardines leveled the score at 1-1 in the 33’. The two sides then traded goals in the second half, with Walter Menjivar scoring in the 65’ for El Salvador and Malachi Webb in the 79’ for the islanders.
It too extra time for things to be decided and a right-footed effort from distance from Michael Ventura in the 107’ earned El Salvador the dramatic 3-2 victory and a place in the next round.
