By the Numbers: 3 records highlight Gold Cup group stage
The tournament has featured a series of historic performances
The Gold Cup rolls on with the start of the quarterfinals on Saturday when Panama face Qatar. That’s followed by Mexico taking on Costa Rica.
Guatemala play Jamaica on Sunday, followed by the USMNT’s clash against northern rivals Canada.
Before the knockout round gets underway, it should be noted that the group stage was highlighted by a series of records. Here are three that stood out:
10 — Most goals in a single game
Not only did the 6-4 Costa Rica win against Martinique yield the highest-scoring match in Gold Cup history, but Tuesday’s results produced an astonishing 25 goals across four games, the most prolific day in tournament history.
In addition to Costa Rica’s record win, there was a 3-2 victory for Guatemala against Guadeloupe, a 4-2 Canada win against Cuba and a 2-2 draw between Panama and El Salvador.
6 — Jesus Ferreira goals
The USMNT striker has six goals so far at this Gold Cup, a result of back-to-back hat tricks against Saint Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago. Ferreira has three hat tricks in a U.S. jersey. The first time came last year when the FC Dallas star scored four times against Grenada in the Nations League.
In all, Ferreira has 14 goals in 21 U.S. appearances since making his debut in 2020. He is currently the top scorer at this Gold Cup as the USMNT prepares to face Canada on Sunday in the quarterfinals.
2 — Goals scored in the same game by Colombians representing El Salvador
In what may very well be the oddest of the records that took place during the group stage, both El Salvador goals in their draw with Panama were scored by a pair of brothers born elsewhere.
In doing so, Brayan Gil and Mayer Gil became the first two players born in Colombia to score a goal in the same Gold Cup game as naturalized players representing El Salvador.
Overall, there have been 88 goals scored in 24 games at this Gold Cup for an average of 3.6 goals per match.