By Mike Woitalla
El Salvador won its first soccer gold medal at the Central American & Caribbean Games since 1954 with a 4-3 penalty-kick victory after a 1-1 tie with Mexico in the final on Saturday.
Carlos Menjivar, a 21-year-old Northern California product who was born in San Francisco, converted El SalvadorÆs third penalty kick of the shootout. He had entered the game as a 116st-minute sub.
''I told the coach after overtime I wanted to take a penalty kick,'' said Menjivar, who played one season at San Diego State before pursuing a pro career in El Salvador. ''I was pretty sure IÆd make it.''
Menjivar, the son of Salvadoran immigrants, signed with Salvadoran League power FAS last March. He started two games during El SalvadorÆs run to the title — a 4-0 win over Nicaragua in group play and the 1-0 semifinal win over Haiti.
''I never imagined anything like this,'' Menjivar said. ''Winning championships is always very difficult and usually players have to wait a long time to win something like a gold medal. I feel very lucky.''
The soccer competition of the Central American & Caribbean Games was an under-21 tournament, allowing it to serve as preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games, in which U-23 teams will compete.
Rafael Marquez had given Mexico a 13th minute lead before Josue Galdamez equalized in the 45th.
Menjivar now returns to FAS, which faces Firpo on Wednesday in a first-leg, semifinal clash of the Apertura championship.