The Dominican U-20 Soccer Team defeated Guatemala on penalties after coming back from 0-2 during the regulation 90
The Dominican Republic continues to make soccer history and the most recent step was to get a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Sedofutbol Sub-20 defeated their equals from Guatemala in a penalty shootout in a match that needed two extra times and a penalty shootout to decide.
Adhonys María scored the final goal in the penalty shootout that gave the Dominican victory after a sensational save by goalkeeper Omry Bello, who entered at half time.
Those led by Mariano Pérez Tejeda are now seeded in the final awaiting the winner between the United States and the hosts of Honduras.
Sedofutbol Sub-20 had to row against the current since Arquímides Ordoñez, attacking man from Guatemala, put a number on the board in the 23rd minute after a corner kick that was served from the right on the edge of the small area, where the attacker appeared to connect with a header and give Guatemala the advantage.
Six minutes later Sebastián Mañón ended up sending the ball into his own goal, increasing the difference.
The Dominican national team was able to discount at the end of the first half when, after a collective play, Edison Azcona from the edge of the area served through the air to Ángel Montes De Oca, who made a good breaking move to enter the area and head in, but his shot went over.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!
The U-20 qualifies for Paris 2024!#FOOTBALLxESPN #LaSeleccionNosUne pic.twitter.com/agGzwuf1do
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For the start of the second half, the Dominican Republic made four substitutions, including goalkeeper Omry Bello, in search of a reaction and it would reach 62′ through one of the newcomers, Guillermo De Peña, on second play after a shot from corner.
At 65′ Azcona drove diagonally from the left towards the center and on the edge of the area he managed to get a low shot that embedded itself in the base of the Guatemalan goalkeeper’s left post.
Sedofútbol continued to attack the goal of the Central American squad, however, they could not get the score that would give them the advantage and that way the 90′ would run out, so the commitment merited being extended to extra time.
Players Thomas Jungbauer, Edison Azcona, Guillermo de Peña and Adhonys María scored for the Dominican Republic in the penalty shootout. On the second attempt from the Dominican Republic, Angel Montes de Oca sent the ball over the crossbar.
So far in the tournament in the U-20 category, Dominican soccer has obtained its passes to the Central American and Caribbean Games, the Pan American Games and for the first time in its history, it will participate in a World Cup organized by FIFA.
