One Play, Two Fails in Gold Cup Game Between El Salvador and Haiti

El Salvador and Haiti met Monday night in the Gold Cup at Houston’s BBVA Stadium. The stakes were relatively high — by Gold Cup standards — with the winner advancing into the knockout rounds and loser likely going home.

Midway through the first half, this comedic sequence transpired on a long ball hoofed up field by El Salvador, which Haitian keeper Frandy Montrévil tried to clear the other way. The problem: He whiffed on the kick and set up an open goal for Rodolfo Zelaya. Zelaya must have been inspired by Montrévil because instead of putting El Salvador up 1-0, he hit the far post to keep the game scoreless.

Zelaya got some redemption later on when he scored the winner later on in the 76th minute. El Salvador could face the United States in Saturday’s quarterfinals depending on results from tonight’s Group C matches.