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2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Guatemala, El Salvador open Central American Qualification with victories

8.2.07 - Guatemala and the host El Salvador opened the Copa de Naciones Digicel 2007 de UNCAF, which is the Central American Qualification to the CONCACAF Gold Cup?, with victories over Nicaragua and Belize, respectively, at the Cuscatlán Stadium in San Salvador on Thursday.

A goal by Carlos Vinicio Quiñónez gave Guatemala (1-0-0, 3 Points) the win over Nicaragua (0-1-0, 0 Points) in the first match of the Copa de Naciones Digicel 2007 de UNCAF (Union Centroamericana de Fútbol) Group 1 on Thursday. The win ended the chapines? seven-game winless streak.

In the other Group 1 encounter, goals by Juan Alberto Diaz and Eliseo Quintanilla led El Salvador (1-0-0, 3 Points) to a 2:1 triumph over Belize (0-1-0, 0 Points).

The Copa de Naciones Digicel 2007 de UNCAF continues on Friday at the Cuscatlán Stadium with Group 2 as the defending champion Costa Rica takes on Honduras at 19:30.

The top two teams from each group will claim a place in the semifinals of the UNCAF tournament and with it a Gold Cup berth. Central America?s fifth and final Gold Cup spot will be determined by a playoff between the two teams that finish third in group play. COMPETE SCHEDULE

The five Central American qualifiers will join Caribbean representatives Cuba, Guadeloupe, Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago and the previous Gold Cup champions (Canada, Mexico, USA) in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup? that takes place from 6-24 June in six venues across the USA.

2007 CONCACAF GOLD CUP? QUALIFICATION

Central American Zone ? Copa de Naciones Digicel 2007 de UNCAF

San Salvador, EL SALVADOR; Cuscatlán Stadium

Group 1

08.02.2007: GUATEMALA ? NICARAGUA 1:0 (1:0)

Carlos Vinicio QUIÑONEZ 29?

GUA: Ricardo Trigueño ? Henry Medina, Gustavo Cabrera, Claudio Josue Albizuriz, Jose Manuel Contreras (70: Hector Saul De Mata), Edwin Villatoro (75: Florencio Martinez), Marvin Tomas Avila (55: Fredy Garcia), Elmer Ramon Ponciano, Fredy Thompson, Carlos Vinicio Quiñonez, Cesar Gilberto Alegria. Booked: Alegria 48?, Thompson 89?

TD: Hernan Dario GOMEZ

NCA: Denis Espinoza ? Roger Mejia, Silvio Aviles, Hoogly Corrales (45: David Solorzano), Eustace Martin, Carlos Alonso, Miguel Masis, Franklin Lopez, Samuel Wilson (59: David Martinez), Remy Vanegas (45: Armando Reyes), Emilio Palacios. Booked: Vanegas 41?, Mejia 70?

TD: Carlos Alberto DE TORO

R: Jose PINEDA (HON)

EL SALVADOR ? BELIZE 2:1 (1:0)

Juan Albero DIAZ 25?; Eliseo QUINTANILLA 55? ? Deris BENAVIDES 64?

SLV: Jose Manuel Gonzalez ? Luis Alfonso Amaya, Victor Manuel Velasquez, Jose Ronaldo Torres, Victor Hugo Merino, Alex Amilcar Erazo, Juan Alberto Diaz (85: Hector Avalos), Gilverto Alfredo Murgas, Aflredo Alberto Pacheco, William Torres, Eliseo Quintanilla (90: Denis Alas). Booked: W. Torres 29?

TD: Carlos DE LOS COBOS

BLZ: Shane Orio ? Ryan Simpson, Mark Leslie, Kareem Haylock (70: Victor Morales), Deon Mccauley, Harrison Roches (59: Deris Benavides), David Trapp (60: Cristobal Gilharry), Bernard Linares, Orland Lyons, Trevor Lennen, Dalton Eiley. Booked: Orio 41?, Leslie 44?, Lyons 57?, Lennen 89?

TD: Antonio VIERIA

R: Walter QUESADA (CRC)

10.02.2007: BELIZE ? GUATEMALA (12:00)

EL SALVADOR ? NICARAGUA (14:15)

12.02.2007: NICARAGUA ? BELIZE (17:15)

EL SALVADOR ? GUATEMALA (19:30)

Group 2

09.02.2007: COSTA RICA ? HONDURAS (19:30)

11.02.2007: HONDURAS ? PANAMA (14:00)

13.02.2007: PANAMA ? COSTA RICA (19:30)