DANIEL Cyrus and Lester Peltier missed crucial spot kicks as Trinidad and Tobago suffered a massive heartbreak, tumbling out of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at the hands of Panama in New Jersey, USA on Sunday night.Chasing their first Gold Cup semi-final berth in 15 years, T&T trailed at MetLife Stadium after 37 minutes, through Luis Tejada’s strike but pulled level early in the second half through captain Kenwyne Jones’s equaliser.
With scores remaining locked through full-time and added extra-time, the game was forced into the lottery of penalty kicks, where Panama came away 6-5 winners.
T&T were left with only themselves to blame, however, as they wasted a golden opportunity to win the shoot-out. Leading 4-3 after Alberto Quintero’s effort was saved by Marvin Phillip, Cyrus stepped up for the game-winning kick only to send his volley blazing over the crossbar.
That missed chance handed Panama the lifeline they needed, and they were perfect from the spot afterwards, Blas Perez and Valentin Pimentel both converting their efforts.
Andre Boucaud was clinical with his shot too but shooting to keep T&T in the game in sudden death, Peltier was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Jaime Penedo diving to his left.
The dramatic defeat brought an end to T&T’s fairy-tale run in the tournament where they played unbeaten to top Group C, and it left head coach Stephen Hart lamenting what could have been.
“Penalties are a cruel way to decide a game but it’s how the game ends,” he said afterwards.
In the night’s other quarter-final, Andres Guardado notched the only goal of the game with time ticking away deep in added extra-time, as Mexico saw off Costa Rica 1-0 to reach the semi-finals.
Though Mexico largely dominated the contest, both teams missed chances and Guardado seized the opportunity to send the Mexicans through, converting from the spot in the 120th minute after Oribe Peralta was brought down.
The semi-final line-up at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta tomorrow will now see Jamaica up against defending champions, the United States, and Mexico clashing with Panama.
Trying to avoid elimination at the quarter-final stage for the second straight Gold Cup, T&T fell behind in the 37th minute when chaos in their backline resulted in Tejada tapping in from ten yards.
Jones almost brought his side back on level terms when he sent his diving header just wide in first-half stoppage.
The lead held until the 54th minute when talisman Jones outmuscled his marker to create space and headed in Khaleem Hyland’s free kick.
Roman Torres sent his header wide in the 78th and Amando Cooper had a shot blocked in the 84th as Panama heaped pressure on T&T late in the contest.