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EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) — Honduras advanced to the Gold Cup semi finals after beating Costa Rica 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Saturday night.
Carlo Costly, Victor Bernardez, Wilson Palacios and Jerry Bengston converted their penalties for Honduras after 120 minutes of play at the New Meadowlands Stadium left the Central American rivals locked at 1-1.
Costa Rica, which has never beaten Honduras in the Gold Cup, saw Celso Borges and Alvaro Saborio's penalties rebound off the crossbar.
In Houston on Wednesday, Honduras will face defending champion Mexico, which rallied to defeat Guatemala 2-1.
Valladares, the Honduras captain, made the biggest play of the game after referee Roberto Moreno of Panama awarded Costa Rica a penalty in the 75th minute for a very questionable foul on Bernardez against Marco Urena.
After getting a yellow card for arguing about the placement of the ball, Valladares made a diving save to thwart Saborio to keep the score locked at 1-1.
"I've felt the emotions of scoring a goal for my country, but you can't compare it to stopping a PK," Valladares said after Honduras advanced to the Gold Cup semifinals for the second straight time and fourth overall.
Reflecting on the missed penalties Costa Rican coach Ricardo La Volpe said his team never works on penalty kick in training.
"I just don't believe in it," he said. "I was a player, I've been a coach for a long time. And I know I don't have to teach anybody how to kick a PK. They already know how. You just have to have the mentality and discipline to put the ball in the net. Look, if we qualified (for the semifinal), we wouldn't be talking about this."
La Volpe was more upset with Honduras' play, which he called "dirty."
"You guys saw the game," he said. "From every point of view, I saw a lot of dirty plays. It happens the fourth, fifth time, you start to think."
Honduran coach Luis Fernando Suarez wouldn't respond to La Volpe' accusations.
Bengston's third goal of the tournament came in the 49th minute when he tapped home into an empty net after Javier Portillo's shot was only partially saved.
Roger Espinoza's long pass played Portillo in behind Costa Rican defender Jose Salvatierra on the left edge of box. Portillo dribbled into the penalty area and unleashed a shot that forced goalkeeper Keylor Navas to save with his legs. The rebound fell kindly for a wide open Bengston to score.
No. 56-ranked Costa Rica equalized 7 minutes later when defender Dennis Marshall jumped highest to meet Cristian Bolanos' corner kick and guided the ball past Valladeras, one of five starters in the lineup from Honduras' World Cup team.
Honduras had a chance to win the game in injury time but Marshall blocked Oscar Boniek Garcia's weak shot.
The Catrachos had one final chance in extra-time but Navas tipped Garcia's deflected shot over the crossbar.
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Carlo Costly, Victor Bernardez, Wilson Palacios and Jerry Bengston converted their penalties for Honduras after 120 minutes of play at the New Meadowlands Stadium left the Central American rivals locked at 1-1.
Costa Rica, which has never beaten Honduras in the Gold Cup, saw Celso Borges and Alvaro Saborio's penalties rebound off the crossbar.
In Houston on Wednesday, Honduras will face defending champion Mexico, which rallied to defeat Guatemala 2-1.
Valladares, the Honduras captain, made the biggest play of the game after referee Roberto Moreno of Panama awarded Costa Rica a penalty in the 75th minute for a very questionable foul on Bernardez against Marco Urena.
After getting a yellow card for arguing about the placement of the ball, Valladares made a diving save to thwart Saborio to keep the score locked at 1-1.
"I've felt the emotions of scoring a goal for my country, but you can't compare it to stopping a PK," Valladares said after Honduras advanced to the Gold Cup semifinals for the second straight time and fourth overall.
Reflecting on the missed penalties Costa Rican coach Ricardo La Volpe said his team never works on penalty kick in training.
"I just don't believe in it," he said. "I was a player, I've been a coach for a long time. And I know I don't have to teach anybody how to kick a PK. They already know how. You just have to have the mentality and discipline to put the ball in the net. Look, if we qualified (for the semifinal), we wouldn't be talking about this."
La Volpe was more upset with Honduras' play, which he called "dirty."
"You guys saw the game," he said. "From every point of view, I saw a lot of dirty plays. It happens the fourth, fifth time, you start to think."
Honduran coach Luis Fernando Suarez wouldn't respond to La Volpe' accusations.
Bengston's third goal of the tournament came in the 49th minute when he tapped home into an empty net after Javier Portillo's shot was only partially saved.
Roger Espinoza's long pass played Portillo in behind Costa Rican defender Jose Salvatierra on the left edge of box. Portillo dribbled into the penalty area and unleashed a shot that forced goalkeeper Keylor Navas to save with his legs. The rebound fell kindly for a wide open Bengston to score.
No. 56-ranked Costa Rica equalized 7 minutes later when defender Dennis Marshall jumped highest to meet Cristian Bolanos' corner kick and guided the ball past Valladeras, one of five starters in the lineup from Honduras' World Cup team.
Honduras had a chance to win the game in injury time but Marshall blocked Oscar Boniek Garcia's weak shot.
The Catrachos had one final chance in extra-time but Navas tipped Garcia's deflected shot over the crossbar.
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