Guatemala Ties Brazil in Upset
MIAMI — Against World Cup champion Brazil, a tie was as good as a win for Guatemala.
Martin Machon found that out Thursday night when he got a phone call from Guatemalan President Alvaro Arzu shortly after Guatemala managed a 1-1 tie with the Brazilians in a first-round match in front of 17,842 at the Orange Bowl.
“We have been working for one cause and that is to lift Guatemalan soccer,” said forward Juan Carlos Plata, whose header off Machon’s corner kick in the fourth minute of injury time forced the tie. “And tonight’s performance was a major accomplishment.”
It was the second tie of the tournament for Brazil, which is without stars Ronaldo and Junhino. Brazil tied Jamaica on Tuesday.
“Brazil is capable of winning any championship it competes in,” said Mario Zagallo, Brazil’s coach. “It’s just a matter of putting the right effort on the field.”
It appeared Brazil’s effort would be enough after Romario converted on a penalty kick in the 79th minute.
Romario was tripped by Guatemala’s Engelvert Herrera inside the penalty box.
The goal broke a 168-minute tournament scoring drought for Brazil.
Brazil outshot Guatemala 14-6, but failed on several scoring opportunities, especially in the first 45 minutes.
In the 22nd minute, a goal by Romario was disallowed by an offside infraction. With four minutes remaining in the half, Guatemala’s Nelson Caceres hit the ball into his own goal but Brazil’s Zinho was offside.
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CONCACAF Gold Cup
* Sunday: Trinidad and Tobago 3, Honduras 1; United States 3, Cuba 0; El Salvador 0, Guatemala 0
* Tuesday: Brazil 0, Jamaica 0
* Wednesday: Costa Rica 7, Cuba 2; Mexico 4, Trinidad and Tobago 2
* Thursday: Brazil 1, Guatemala 1
* Today: El Salvador vs. Jamaica, 8 p.m. (Los Angeles Coliseum).
* Saturday: Costa Rica vs. United States, 2 p.m.; Honduras vs. Mexico, 4 p.m. (Oakland Coliseum).
* Sunday: Guatemala vs. Jamaica, 2 p.m.; Brazil vs. El Salvador, 4 p.m. (Los Angeles Coliseum).
* Tuesday: Semifinal, 8 p.m. (Los Angeles Coliseum).
* Thursday: Semifinal, 7 p.m. (Los Angeles Coliseum).
* Feb. 15: Third-place game, 3 p.m. and final, 5 p.m. (Los Angeles Coliseum).
* All times Pacific.
