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U.S. Advances After Peru, Haiti Battle to Tie in Gold Cup

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

The United States qualified for the quarterfinals of soccer’s 12-nation Gold Cup tournament Monday without so much as kicking a ball.

It happened when Peru could manage no better than a 1-1 tie against Haiti in the second game of a doubleheader played in front of an Orange Bowl crowd of 23,795.

In the first game, Honduras knocked 1998 World Cup participant Jamaica out of the tournament with a surprising 2-0 victory brought about by some erratic goalkeeping by the Jamaicans.

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The nightcap was a drab affair. It picked up somewhat in the 61st minute when Haiti’s Sebastien Vorbe scored at close range, leaving Peruvian goalkeeper Oscar Ibanez no chance.

Peru tied the game eight minutes later on a goal by Ysrael Zuniga, but could not get the winner. The tie left each team with one point. The U.S., which has three points after its 3-0 victory over Haiti on Saturday, plays Peru on Wednesday night needing at least a tie to clinch first place in the group.

U.S. Coach Bruce Arena was asked before the Gold Cup began which team he expected to face in the quarterfinals.

“Colombia or Jamaica,” he replied.

Scratch Jamaica, which lost, 1-0, to Colombia on Saturday. Now, it will be Colombia or Honduras.

The “Reggae Boyz” were outclassed by a Honduran team that featured a sparkling trio in forwards Carlos Pavon and Milton Nunez and midfielder Milton Reyes.

Jamaica was reduced to 10 men in the 32nd minute when starting goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence deliberately handled the ball outside the penalty area while foiling a breakaway by Pavon and was red-carded.

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Jamaican Coach Rene Simoes was forced to remove a field player, Winston Griffiths, in order to replace Lawrence with goalkeeper Warren Barrett.

The score was still tied, 0-0, at the half, but the second 45 minutes belonged to Honduras, which scored twice and hit the left and right posts and the crossbar with scorching shots.

The opening goal came in the 51st minute when Pavon scored on a penalty kick after Barrett had tripped Nunez, who had broken through one-on-one against him.

Honduras doubled its advantage in the 86th minute when Jairo Martinez hit the right post with a shot, collected the rebound and crossed for Jorge Caballero to head the ball over Barrett and into the net.

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2000 Gold Cup schedule:

Tonight--South Korea vs. Canada, 7; Trinidad and Tobago vs. Guatemala, 9, at the Coliseum.

Wednesday--Honduras vs. Colombia, 4; Peru vs. U.S., 6, at Miami.

Thursday--Mexico vs. Guatemala, 7; South Korea vs. Costa Rica, 9, at the Coliseum.

Saturday--Winner Group B vs. runner-up Group A, noon; winner Group A vs. runner-up Group B, 2:30, at Miami.

Sunday--Winner Group D vs. runner-up Group C, noon; winner Group C vs. runner-up Group D, 2:30, at San Diego.

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Feb. 23--Winner quarterfinal A vs. winner quarterfinal B, 8, at San Diego.

Feb. 24--Winner quarterfinal C vs. winner quarterfinal D, 8, at the Coliseum.

Feb. 27--Gold Cup championship game, noon, at the Coliseum.

Groups

Group A--Colombia, Jamaica, Honduras; Group B--Haiti, Peru, United States; Group C--Guatemala, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago; Group D--Canada, Costa Rica, South Korea.

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