Costa Rica Takes Command Early in a 2-0 Victory Over Guatemala

One of the CONCACAF Gold Cup favorites, Costa Rica did all it needed to do and more in the first 17 minutes to beat game but outclassed Guatemala, 2-0, Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

Midfielder Roger Gomez scored in the 14th minute, followed by a goal three minutes later by forward Leroy Flores.

Costa Rica also scored a second-half goal, but it was nullified because of an offsides penalty.

Starting times for Monday’s games at the Rose Bowl have been changed. The Costa Rica-Trinidad and Tobago game will begin at 6:15 p.m., while the U.S.-Guatemala game will begin at 8:15 p.m. CONCACAF’s secretary general, Chuck Blazer, said that a local ordinance requiring promoters to pay an additional fee for each minute an event continues after 10 p.m. necessitated the changes.

In today’s games at the Coliseum, Jamaica meets Honduras at 4 p.m. and Mexico plays Canada at 6 p.m. A report in Saturday’s Times saying Honduras goalkeeper Belarmino Rivera was suspended was incorrect. He is with the team, although he didn’t play in Friday’s 4-2 victory over Canada.