HOUSTON – Curaçao pulled off a stunning last-minute comeback on Saturday night, securing a 1-1 draw against tournament favorites Canada in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. A stoppage-time equalizer by Jeremy Antonisse kept Curaçao’s hopes alive for a spot in the knockout stage. 

Canada took the lead early in the match through Nathan Saliba, who found the net in the ninth minute. The 20-year-old forward from CF Montréal scored in his second consecutive match, giving Canada the upper hand after their emphatic 6-0 victory over Honduras in the tournament opener. 

Despite the early setback, Curaçao refused to back down. In the second half, the team led by head coach Dick Advocaat grew into the game and began dominating possession. A potential equalizer by Jürgen Locadia in the 68th minute was ruled out for offside following a VAR review. 

But the breakthrough came in the dying moments. In the 94th minute, Antonisse broke free on the wing and calmly slotted home the tying goal. “We are one big family, and we fight for each other,” the goal scorer said after the match. 

The draw places Curaçao third in Group B, but a win in their final group stage match against Honduras on Tuesday could still send them through to the quarterfinals. 

Honduras Rebounds With Win Over El Salvador 

In another Group B clash on Saturday, Honduras bounced back with a solid 2-0 win over El Salvador, also played in Houston. Romell Quioto opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a well-executed one-two combination with Edwin Rodríguez, finishing confidently to put Honduras ahead. 

El Salvador had several chances to equalize but lacked precision in front of goal. In stoppage time, Dixon Ramírez sealed the victory with a rapid counterattack and an easy tap-in, locking in the final score. 

With the result, Honduras moves ahead of Curaçao in the group standings and enters Tuesday’s decisive matchup with momentum. The clash between the two sides will likely determine which nation advances to the final eight of the Gold Cup.