2025 Gold Cup Recaps: Curacao Secures Late Equalizer vs Canada While Honduras Rolls

Canada stays top of Group B despite a stoppage time equalizer while Honduras shuts out El Salvador for their first win in group play.

Curacao used some late heroics to keep them well within striking distance of the knockouts while Honduras moved into second place in the group standings with a comprehensive win over El Salvador.

CURACAO 1, CANADA 1

Canada got things started early, after Leandro Bacuna chopped down Jacob Shaffelburg on the left wing in the 8th minute, earning himself a yellow card for the challenge.

The ensuing free kick was only partially cleared, where it fell to midfielder Nathan Saliba who slammed a half volley past Eloy Room for the opener officially in the 9th minute.

Curacao nearly responded within ten minutes, when Juninho Bacuna found his brother off a free kick but Leandro’s header was parried over by Canada keeper Dayne St. Clair.

The rest of the first half was thin on chances, Canada’s Tani Oluwaseyi forcing a charging Room into a good save in the 36th and Curacao’s Jurgen Locadia dragged a shot just wide of the post in the 43rd.

Curacao thought they had an equalizer in the 66th, when a good hold up play through Locadia up top eventually saw him get the ball back via a backheel from Sherel Floranus. Locadia turned and fired a pearl of a shot from the top of the box into the far post that gave St. Clair no chance, but VAR intervened saying Locadia was just offside in the buildup.

Curacao wanted a penalty shout in the 80th for a potential handball on Shaffelburg but the referee whistled play on. Five minutes later from a drop ball (which are always uncontested), Juninho Bacuna fired in a cross from the right wing which Roshon van Eijma headed home only for the flag to go up as he was clearly a half step offside.

Curacao’s persistence however would pay off in stoppage time, when they pounced on an awkward clearance in the midfield and Joshua Zimmerman’s through ball put Jeremy Antonisse clear on goal and he slotted home in the 94th for the final 1-1 scoreline.

With chances at a premium in this game, just six shots a piece for each team and only a narrow 3-2 edge for Canada in shots on goal, Canada opting to rotate out former Revolution winger Tajon Buchana after a two-goal performance against Honduras among a few other changes is interesting. Canada was also forced to substitute off Ali Ahmed after he entered as a sub after just 14 minutes, with Buchanan replacing him in the 70th, so their plans went awry regardless.

HONDURAS 2, EL SALVADOR 0

There is rarely any love lost between these two sides, but only the Soccer War could produce a game with four shots on goal, 31 combined fouls, and only two yellow cards.

Honduras got a goal from star man Romell Quioto as the former Houston and Montreal attacker finished off a one-two sequence with Edwin Rodríguez, his teammate springing him into a wide open run to slot home into the far corner.

Honduras nearly got their second when Deybi Flores found himself wide open in the middle of the box after a great sequence and set up pass from Jorge Alvarez. but his effort was right at Salvadorean keeper Mario Gonzalez.

Los Catrachos would get their second in stoppage time, with substitute Dixon Ramirez finishing off a long fast break in the final seconds. With everyone on El Salvador up in the box for a last chance free kick, Yustin Arboleda would get credit with an assist from 90 yards away as his initial clearing header sprang Ramirez on a length of the field run.

El Salvador had the bulk of possession (62-38%) and six corners as well, but could only produce one shot on target in the match though their best effort came from a Brayan Gil chip right before halftime at the top of the box that went just over the bar.

GROUP OVERVIEW

Everyone is still alive after two games, though El Salvador has the hardest road through Canada to get to the knockouts. They need a win and then of all things a Honduras draw to pass their rivals on goal difference. Canada is through with any positive result but would top the group with a win.

The fun begins with the Curacao-Honduras matchup, as the winner is certainly through in some fashion. Honduras can advance with a draw and an El Salvador loss but could top the group with a win and a Canada draw.

Group B concludes on Tuesday June 24th in the late 10 PM EDT slot with Canada-El Salvador on FS1 from Houston, TX and Honduras-Curacao on FS2 from San Jose, CA.