Gold Cup goalscorer killed

Costa Rica defender Dennis Marshall has been killed in a car crash, five days after scoring at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

“It’s incredible, I can’t believe it … You never know what’s going to happen to you tomorrow, but that’s life,” his agent Jorge Ulloa said.

The 25-year-old Marshall, who played for Danish club Aalborg, died in a head-on collision with a truck on a mountain highway in eastern San Jose.

“He was a young man with a bright future, well loved for his easy-going nature … We’re all shocked, it’s a blow,” said Costa Rica’s Argentine coach Ricardo La Volpe.

Marshall equalised in Costa Rica’s Gold Cup quarter-final against Honduras on June 18 with his first goal for his country in his 19th appearance.

The match ended 1-1 and Honduras won a penalty shootout.

“Sadly this happens to a person who was well-liked,” said Marshall’s fellow defender Jose Salvatierra after a practice session for July’s Copa America.

Reports by Costa Rican daily Al Día showed photos of the accident and indicated that Marshall lost control of his Mazda, which was travelling at high speed.

“To hear of a teammate that has died really impacts us,” striker Randall Brenes said.

“It’s hit us hard. We were in shock hoping that it wasn’t him, but it’s already been confirmed.”

“It’s very sad. … He was like a brother to all of us.”

Marshall, who had attended his grandfather’s funeral, will be buried in Limon, Costa Rica.

He was scheduled to return to Denmark on July 3 to rejoin Aalborg.