CONCACAF Gold Cup Wrap: Trinidad and Tobago, El Salvador progress

Trinidad and Tobago have qualified for the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup thanks to a 2-0 win over Honduras in Houston.

Honduras had already booked their place in the last eight thanks to wins in their first two matches but their quest to remain unbeaten took a hit seven minutes before the interval when right-back Jose David Velasquez was given his marching orders by referee Marco Rodriguez.

Trinidad and Tobago were able to make their numerical advantage count three minutes into the second-half on Monday, when Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones slotted home a penalty.

And Kevin Molino made sure of the win on 67 minutes, firing a shot past Kevin Hernandez in the Honduras goal.

The victory saw Trinidad and Tobago claim second place in Group B, having scored more goals than El Salvador, who booked their spot in the next phase as one of the two best third-placed teams thanks to a 1-0 victory over Haiti.

A 76th-minute penalty from Rodolfo Zelaya was all that separated the two sides, after the striker had already hit the woodwork twice in the first half.

Zelaya finally made the breakthrough late in the match from the spot, following a controversial decision from the assistant referee, who believed Mechack Jerome had fouled substitute Rafael Burgos.

Despite seeing his spot-kick well saved by Frandy Montrevil, Zelaya tucked in the rebound to make it 1-0.

That was where the scoreline stayed and El Salvador’s four points were enough to make them the best-performed of the tournament’s third-placed sides, sending them into the quarter-finals.