Guatemala Beats Suriname 1-0, Reaches Quarter-Finals

FOOTBALL · GUATEMALA

Guatemala beat Suriname 1-0 in Guatemala City on Monday 5 October and reached the Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals for the first time. The winner came from substitute Matthew Evans in the sixth minute of stoppage time, according to Concacaf’s official match report. For fans in the United States, it sets up a November tie with Canada, while the US team meets Haiti in the same round of the Nations League quarter-finals.

The stakes were simple. Suriname led Group B and needed only a draw. Guatemala, coached by the Mexican Luis Fernando Tena, had to win. For more than 90 minutes the score stayed 0-0.

Then Evans, who had come off the bench, took a pass from Olger Escobar and struck a left-footed shot from outside the box into the top corner, according to the Guatemalan football site Guatefutbol. Concacaf’s match report puts the goal at 90+6. It was his first senior goal for Guatemala, the news site Soy502 reported.

A Late Goal After a Tense Night

The match was played at the Estadio Manuel Felipe Carrera, known locally as El Trébol. Suriname started the brighter side. Gyrano Kerk hit the outside of the post in the fifth minute, Guatefutbol reported.

The game turned just after the hour. Suriname substitute Richonell Margaret was shown a straight red card. Guatefutbol said it was for an obscene gesture towards home fans; the Dutch magazine Voetbal International said he was accused of provoking the crowd.

Guatefutbol also reported a long stoppage after Suriname players complained of racist insults from the stands. Referees and captains spoke before play resumed. That account has not been confirmed by Concacaf or by either federation.

With an extra man, Guatemala pushed forward, but mostly through crosses. A Guatemala goal was ruled out for an offensive foul. Twelve minutes of stoppage time were shown, Guatefutbol reported.

Even after the goal, the night was not over. Suriname goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen went forward in the final seconds and headed towards goal. Guatemala keeper Nicholas Hagen kept it out.

The Suriname news site Starnieuws called it a dramatic defeat, its first of the campaign. Suriname, coached by the Dutchman Henk Fraser, had beaten Honduras 3-2 and Martinique 2-1, then drawn 0-0 with Guatemala in Paramaribo on Friday 2 October.

Three Teams Level on Points

Group B finished in a three-way tie. Guatemala, Jamaica and Suriname each ended on 7 points from four games. Only the top two go through.

Jamaica drew 1-1 with Honduras in Tegucigalpa the same night, the Jamaica Gleaner reported. Tyreece Campbell scored for Jamaica and Luis Palma equalised for Honduras. That draw was enough: Jamaica finished second, one goal ahead of Suriname on goal difference.

Guatemala’s path was uneven. It lost its opening game to Jamaica, then beat El Salvador 6-0 before the two meetings with Suriname. Martinique and El Salvador drew with each other and finished on 4 points, as did Honduras.

The quarter-final draw follows from the groups. Guatemala plays Canada, Jamaica plays Mexico, Curaçao plays Panama, and Haiti plays the United States, according to Inside World Football. Those four top-ranked teams entered directly at this stage.

Suriname and Honduras are not out of the Gold Cup race. They move into a preliminary qualifying round, together with the four quarter-final losers.

What It Means for You

For US viewers, the Nations League quarter-finals now carry two regional stories. Guatemala faces a Canada side that entered as one of the region’s top four. The US team plays Haiti over two legs.

Evans himself is a link. AS USA reported that the 20-year-old was born in California and has Guatemalan roots, a profile shared by several players in the region who qualify through their parents.

The prize is practical. The four quarter-final winners qualify for the 2027 Gold Cup, the region’s championship, and for the Nations League finals in March 2027. Losers still get a second route to the Gold Cup.

For Guatemala, the result spared Tena another setback, as Guatefutbol put it. The site also noted that the win did not hide the team’s attacking problems, which Canada will test.

What Is Not Known

Concacaf has set the quarter-finals for the 9–17 November window but has not yet published match dates, kick-off times or the order of home and away legs for the Guatemala-Canada tie.

It is not known whether Concacaf will open disciplinary proceedings over the red card or the alleged racist abuse. Neither federation had commented publicly on the stoppage in the reports reviewed.

Earlier this week, Curaçao took the other group’s top spot: Curaçao Into Nations League Quarter-Finals as Trinidad and Tobago Go Down. Guatemala’s home win over El Salvador was covered in Guatemala vs El Salvador at El Trébol on 28 September.

Who did Guatemala beat to reach the quarter-finals?

Guatemala beat Suriname 1-0 in Guatemala City on Monday 5 October. Substitute Matthew Evans scored in stoppage time to win Group B.

Who will Guatemala play next?

Guatemala plays Canada in a two-leg Nations League quarter-final between 9 and 17 November. Exact dates and venues have not yet been announced.

What do the quarter-final winners get?

The four winners qualify for the 2027 Gold Cup and the Nations League finals in March 2027. The losers get a second chance to reach the Gold Cup.

Sources: Concacaf · Concacaf (Gold Cup pathway) · Prensa Libre · Guatefutbol · Soy502 · Starnieuws · Jamaica Gleaner · Inside World Football · AS USA · Voetbal International

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief

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