MIAMI, 19 July 2003 — A 79th-minute goal by Mauricio Molina earned Colombia a 1-1 draw with Guatemala on Thursday and a place in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Mexico also advanced to the last eight after a 0-0 draw with Honduras in Mexico City. Colombia, who finished top of Group B, had fallen behind to a 21st-minute penalty from Carlos Ruiz.
The penalty was awarded by Costa Rican referee Greivin Porra after Fredy Williams Thompson was fouled by Luis Perea.
Colombia wasted several chances before finally equalizing when Molina headed in a cross from the right by Ruben Dario Bustos.
The draw was enough to eliminate Guatemala from the tournament. Colombia now play Brazil in the quarterfinals in Miami today. Playing in front of only 15,000 fans in the giant Azteca Stadium, Mexico struggled against a defensive-minded Honduras side in their Group A tie.
The Mexicans did not have a shot on target until substitute Luis Perez fired a right-footed effort from the edge of the box in the 75th minute. Honduras had the better chances, with defender Milton Palacios shooting straight at Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez from inside the six-yard box.
At the other end, Palacios and fellow defender Jaime Rosales kept Mexico striker Jared Borgetti quiet, winning most of the balls in the air. Mexico, who beat a weakened Brazil 1-0 earlier in Group A, now play hosts to Jamaica in the last eight. Honduras are out.
US Open Women’s World Cup Defense Against Sweden
In Carson, California, the United States will open the defense of their women’s World Cup title against Sweden after Thursday’s draw for the 16-nation tournament.
The Americans have also been drawn alongside Nigeria and North Korea in Group A.
“Clearly, we have a group with possibly four of the best seven teams in the world,” US coach April Heinrichs told reporters.
Sweden are fifth and North Korea seventh in world governing body FIFA’s rankings. Nigeria are 23rd.
Olympic champions Norway and European champions Germany will also be playing in the finals, which are being held at six venues in the US from Sept. 20 to Oct. 12.
The US, Norway, Germany and China are the four seeds, based on FIFA’s first rankings for women’s soccer which were announced Wednesday.
China lost to the US in the 1999 final.
The draw in Carson, which will also host the final, yielded the following four groups, with the top two sides from each section going into the quarterfinals:
Group A — U.S., Sweden, Nigeria, North Korea; Group B — Norway, France, Brazil, South Korea; Group C — Germany, Canada, Japan, Argentina; Group D — China, Ghana, Australia, Russia.
