Football/Soccer - Digicel Cup of Nation: Costa Rica claims sixth Central American crown

bana2166 · Published by bana2166- 02-19-07

Digicel Cup of Nation: Costa Rica claims sixth Central American crown

18.2.07 - Costa Rica claimed their sixth Copa de Naciones Digicel de UNCAF, which is the Central American Qualification to the CONCACAF Gold Cup?, by defeating Panama 4:1 on penalty kicks after a 1:1 draw in the final held at the Cuscatlán Stadium in San Salvador on Sunday.

Luis Tejada gave Panama the lead in the 36th minute but Kurt Bernard got the equaliser for Costa Rica with five minutes remaining to send the Copa de Naciones Digicel 2007 de UNCAF (Union Centroamericana de Fútbol) Final into penalties.

Michael Barrantes, Walter Centeno, Rolando Fonseca and Carlos Hernandez scored for the ticos, while Rolando Escobar had the only goal for the canaleros, with kicks from Felipe Baloy and Victor Herrera were saved by the Costa Rican Jose Francisco Porras.

In the earlier encounter on Sunday at the Cuscatlán Stadium, a goal by Claudio Albizuriz in the 82nd minute gave Guatemala a 1:0 victory over the hosts, El Salvador to capture the tournament?s third-place honour.

Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama along with Honduras are the Central American qualifiers to the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup?, taking place from 6-24 June in six venues across the USA, joining Caribbean representatives Cuba, Guadeloupe, Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago and the previous Gold Cup champions (Canada, Mexico, USA).

The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup? opens in Miami's Orange Bowl on 6 June with the Final scheduled for Soldier Field, Chicago, on 24 June. The four other venues that will host Gold Cup games in 2007 are Giants Stadium (near New York City) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Home Depot Center (near Los Angeles) in Carson, California, Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, close to Boston, Massachusetts.

CONCACAF will unveil the groups and complete calendar of the 2007 CONCACAF Gold CupTM in early March.

2007 CONCACAF GOLD CUP? QUALIFICATION

Central American Zone ? Copa de Naciones Digicel 2007 de UNCAF

San Salvador, EL SALVADOR; Cuscatlán Stadium

Third Place

18.02.2007: EL SALVADOR ? GUATEMALA 0:1 (0:0)

Claudio ALBIZURIZ 82?

Final

18.02.2007: COSTA RICA ? PANAMA 1:1 (0:1), 4:1 pen

Luis TEJADA 36? ? Kurt BERNARD 85?

Felipe BALOY (SV), Victor HERRERA (SV), Rolando ESCOBAR (G) ? Walter CENTENO (G), Rolando FONSECA (G), Carlos HERNANDEZ (G), Michael BARRANTES (G)

COPA DE NACIONES UNCAF ALL-TIME WINNERS