Who is Darwin Lom, the cold-blooded player of Guatemala with the Panenka penalty?
Darwin Lom became popular on social media after his Panenka goal in the penalty shootout against Canada
Darwin Lom was one of Guatemala's stars in their penalty shootout victory over Canada this Sunday.
The Guatemalan scored his Panenka-style penalty in the middle of the penalty shootout, which left Canada's goalkeeper cold, and then the team managed to reach the Gold Cup semi-finals.
"We hope to reach the final. Sometimes they tell me I'm crazy for thinking and dreaming so much, but if you're not crazy, what's life for? You have to dream of different things and do them. That's what life is for," Lom said in the mixed zone after Guatemala's historic penalty shootout victory over Canada.
Darwin Lom plays for Comunicaciones in Guatemala and has more than 40 caps at the international level.
At the international level, Lom has played 41 caps and scored 12 goals in all competitions.
In this Gold Cup, the Guatemalan forward started as a starter and scored a goal in the first match. Lom came on as a substitute against Canada and was one of the scorers in the penalty shootout.
During his career, he played for several USL Championship teams. In Guatemala, the 27-year-old forward has played for Deportivo Mixco, Xelaju, Malacateco, and Guastatoya.
Luis Fernando Tena said he didn't expect Lom's penalty
Luis Fernando Tena, Guatemala's coach, said he didn't see Lom's penalty coming since he had practiced them differently.
"I didn't expect it, because yesterday we were practicing penalties and he shot it differently. He shot it hard, very firm. And today he decided to change it. One of those penalties that if you make it, you applaud him; but if they miss, we'd have him hanging there right now," said the coach after Guatemala's historic run to the Gold Cup semifinals.
Now the Guatemalans will have the opportunity to reach their first final when they face the United States on Wednesday, July 2.

