Honduras upset El Salvador 4-0 at the Gold Cup in Los Angeles on Tuesday, a result that sent Curacao through to the quarterfinals at the expense of El Salvador.
Three superb second-half goals in the space of 16 minutes earned Honduras their first points of the competition in the final match in Group C.
Earlier, Curacao scored a very late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Jamaica in the early game in Group C.
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Jamaica ended up topping the group with five points, followed by Curacao and El Salvador on four each. Curacao, however, advanced with a better goal difference.
El Salvador kicked off against Honduras knowing that with a win they would top the group, while a draw would also assure a quarterfinals berth.
But they were knocked on their heels in the 59th minute when Honduras midfielder Jorge Alvarez curled a delicious 23-yard shot inside the post.
It was 2-0 six minutes later when Rubilio Castillo calmly finished after being put through by Luis Garrido.
Bryan Acosta delivered the knockout blow in the 75th minute after latching onto a pinpoint 50-yard long ball by defender Maynor Figueroa.
Emilio Izaguirre completed the rout in the 90th minute.