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Golden performances Canada, Costa Rica advance to Gold Cup semisPosted: Saturday January 26, 2002 8:09 PMUpdated: Sunday January 27, 2002 1:38 AM
MIAMI (AP) -- Jason Bent scored in the seventh round of penalty kicks Saturday as defending champion Canada edged Martinique 6-5 in the shootout to reach the Gold Cup semifinals after drawing 1-1 in regulation. Martinique had a 4-3 lead in penalties and only needed Fabrice Reuperne's conversion on the fifth attempt to secure the match. But Canada avoided elimination when Reuperne's shot sailed high above the crossbar. Both teams converted in the sixth round, but Pascal Lina hit the right post on Martinique's next attempt, setting up Bent's game-winner. Canada will play the winner of Sunday's quarterfinal between the United States and El Salvador in the semifinals on Wednesday in Pasadena. Martinique opened the scoring with an own-goal in the 63rd minute. Defender Mark Rogers' attempt to clear Rodolphe Rano's crossing pass from the right wing trickled into the Canadian goal. The goal came just after Martinique's Jean-Victor Lavril was ejected for fouling Canada's Daniel Imhof in the 61st minute. Kevin McKenna scored his third goal of the tournament in the 73rd minute to equalize for Canada. McKenna received a long ball from Jim Brennan off the left wing and headed in a shot just outside the 6-meter (yard) box, beating Martinique goalkeeper Eddy Heurlie. Canada had the best scoring opportunity of the overtime session as another McKenna header from inside the box hit the crossbar in the 117th minute. Canada goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld kept the match scoreless in the first half after a diving save off Lavril's 25-meter (yard) shot in the 39th minute. Hirschfeld also came out of the box to stop Rano's open run on goal three minutes earlier. Heurlie also had diving saves off shots by Canada's Davide Xausa and Brennan at the 14th and 42nd minutes, respectively. Gomez's golden goal boosts Costa Rica past HaitiMIAMI (AP) -- Ronald Gomez scored a golden goal in the eighth minute of extra time as Costa Rica advanced to the Gold Cup semifinals Saturday by beating Haiti 2-1 in the Orange Bowl. Gomez eluded four Haitian defenders to set up his game-winning, 28-meter (yard) shot. Haitian goalkeeper Geteau Ferdinand was screened and could not react to Gomez's shot, which landed inside the left post. Gomez also assisted on Costa Rica's first goal. Costa Rica will play the winner of a quarterfinal match between Mexico and South Korea in the semifinals on Wednesday in Pasadena, Calif.. Costa Rica, which won the CONCACAF region's World Cup qualifying campaign and will play in this year's tournament in South Korea and Japan, had a tough time Saturday. Haiti, which beat South American World Cup qualifier Ecuador in the first round of the tournament, sent the match into overtime when Golman Pierre equalized in the 62nd minute. Roosevelt Desir sent a crossing pass from the right wing deep into the penalty box area and Pierre headed it past Costa Rica goalkeeper Erick Lonnis. Hernan Medford nearly answered for Costa Rica in the 84th, but his free kick sailed over the crossbar. Costa Rica took the lead in the second minute when Walter Centeno received a pass from Gomez and drilled a shot from 25 meters (yards) that beat Ferdinand inside the left post. Haiti nearly scored in the 36th minute after Lonnis mishandled a loose ball inside the box that Haitian defender Jean-Jacques Pierre pounced upon. But his shot into the open goal area was cleared by Costa Rican defender Reynaldo Parks.
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