El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago met Monday night at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey in their 2013 Gold Cup opening matches.
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Trinidad started the scoring early in the contest when Keon Daniel sent one past El Salvador keeper Dagoberto Portillo in the 11th minute for a 1-0 lead. Despite only getting 2 shot attempts off in the first 45-plus minutes of action - with Daniel's being the only shot on goal - Trinidad and Tobago claimed the early portion of momentum.
It only took El Salvador 11 minutes to answer back however when Rodolfo Zelaya played one between the pipes at the 22-minute mark, evening the contest at one goal apiece. A defensive struggle would ensue for the remaining 23-plus minutes and although El Salvador controlled the offense portion of the game - firing 7 shots including 2 on goal - the tally by Zelaya proved to be the only one of the half.
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Playing to a one-all tie heading into the break, fans in attendance at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey had visions of an exciting second half.
Rodolfo Zelaya put El Salvador in front for the first time with his second goal of the game. Now leading 2-1 with 69 minutes gone by, Zelaya and company hoped to build on their advantage.
Premier player Kenwyne Jones didn't allow that to happen however. Tying the game 4 minutes later, Trinidad and Tobago's top offensive threat pulled his squad even with 17 minutes plus stoppage time remaining.
Zelaya looked like he'd complete the hat trick in the 89th-minute from right in front of the goal but a brilliant save from T&T keep Jan Jan Williams kept the contest even at 2 with stoppage time approaching. The beautiful saved by the keeper was enough to keep the game in a stalemate as time expired after 3 minutes and 44 seconds of stoppage time.
With 24 combined shots including 9 that made their way on goal, both squads look talented enough to compete in the Gold Cup's Group B as they hope to play on the level of group favorite Honduras.
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