Guatemala edges Jamaica in CONCACAF Gold Cup opener

CARSON — The parking lot at Dignity Health Sports Park an hour before the start of Monday’s CONCACAF Group C doubleheader was early proof that the Guatemalan national team would hold the home crowd advantage.

The Los Angeles area is home to a large Guatemalan population, and many of them turned out for a celebration, which is what the night turned into. The party continued as soon as the first game between Panama and Guadeloupe ended and lasted throughout the game.

In the 32nd minute, Darwin Lom and Oscar Santis combined to give the supporters what they had been waiting for. Lom played a back-heel ball into Santis, who slipped the ball by Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake for the goal.

Guatemala had chances to increase its lead, but held on for a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in front of 18,262.

After five added minutes at the end of the game, the vast majority of the crowd celebrated.

From the outset, the game had an intense feel, but it was Guatemala, which was thriving in the moment, feeding off of the energy from the crowd, every tackle and advancing of the ball drawing loud ovations.

Last week, Jamaica defeated Guatemala, 3-0, in a World Cup qualifier.

“It was really exciting how much they gave their all,” Guatemala coach Luis Fernando Tena said through translation. “Jamaica has 14 players in the UK, but our heart the players put in, made the difference.

“We’re happy. Even though there are a lot of things going on that we’re not happy about, we want the fans to leave happy. The (players) always give their all and we want people to leave proud and represented.”

In the 70th minute, Guatemala almost put the game away, but Blake came up with a sprawling save to his right to keep out a diving header by Rubio Rubin. Blake again was pressed into action in the 74th minute.

Deep into stoppage time, a late chance for Jamaica materialized, but Ethan Pinnock got behind the Guatemala defense, but his header was high and off target.

The win moves Guatemala into a tie in the group with Panama after the first round. Those teams will square off on Friday in the second game of a doubleheader at PayPal Park in San Jose.

Jamaica will face Guadeloupe. Panama defeated Guadeloupe, 5-2, in Monday’s first game.

“Panama is the best team in Central America. In 20 minutes (Monday), they had four goals in 20 minutes,” Tena said. “We are also growing and relying on the team.”

“We are trying to exceed our expectations. Today it was in our favor.”

Guatemala made a quarterfinal appearance in the last edition of the Gold Cup in 2023. The team has had two others trips to that point (2007 and 2011) in the last 25 years. It has been nearly 60 years since Guatemala won the Gold Cup (1967).

“The victory was sensational from my point of view,” Tena said. “I think we can grow more. The Gold Cup is really important to us. I think it is a place where we can grow individually and collectively.”

Jamaica was credited with 15 shots but only two on goal.