Guatemala’s Oscar Santis Shines in Gold Cup Match Victory

GUATEMALA — Oscar Santis scored the winning goal for Guatemala in the Gold Cup 2025, helping the team secure a 1-0 victory against their opponents on Saturday. The match marked the beginning of the group stage for Guatemala in Group C.

Santis, an attacker who plays for Antigua GFC, scored the decisive goal after receiving an assist from Darwin Lom. In a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, Santis struck the ball with his foot, sending it into the net and clinching three important points for Guatemala.

The Gold Cup recognized Santis’ goal as one of the best of the group stage, alongside scores from players like Dante Sealy from Trinidad and Tobago and Jorge Álvarez from Honduras. His performance has impressed head coach Luis Fernando Tena, especially following his contributions in World Cup qualifying matches.

During the qualifiers, Santis was instrumental against the Dominican Republic and helped secure a spot for the final round, which begins in September against El Salvador at Estadio Cementos Progreso.

Going into the knockout stage, Santis is expected to play a crucial role in the team’s offense. On Sunday, Guatemala will face Canada in their third-ever meeting at the Gold Cup, with both teams having contrasting results in previous encounters.

Guatemala aims to change their fortunes against Canada, who have won one match, while the other ended in a draw. The stakes are high as they seek progression in the tournament.