Guatemala Wins L.A. Soccer Tournament
The championship match of the Marlboro Soccer Cup Sunday between the Guatemala National Team and the Universidad de Guadalajara had the potential to be a combative affair, but the fireworks ended up coming in the form of goals, not punches.
Byron Perez scored two goals and assisted on another to give Guatemala a 3-2 victory over Guadalajara, a top club team from Mexico, in front of 15,242 at the Coliseum.
Guatemala went ahead, 3-1, 10 minutes into the second half on a 20-yard shot by Perez, then barely held on to win as Guadalajara banged two shots off the post and cross bar in the waning minutes.
For the most part, the game was devoid of violent play as referee Ed Bellion issued four yellow cards and kept control, which was no small feat. When Mexico’s national team was suspended last June from the 1988 Olympics and the 1992 World Cup for using over-age players in youth competition, it was Guatemala’s football association that filed the initial complaint. The penalties were ordered by FIFA, the world’s soccer governing body.
Also, Guatemala will replace Mexico in the Summer Olympics.
Guatemala didn’t make things any easier for Mexican fans Sunday as it took early control and held on for the victory.
But Guadalajara Coach Ignacio Trelles said that neither he nor his team were angry with Guatemala, though he did call the suspensions unfair. Guadalajara replaced Mexico in the Coliseum tournament.
Guatemala’s victory over the Mexican professional team gave it a shot of confidence heading into next month’s Olympics, Perez said.
“It’s a surprise for us because they (Guadalajara) are more experienced and perhaps stronger than us,” Perez said through an interpreter.
Guatemala gained a 2-0 lead early in the first half on goals that Guadalajara goalkeeper Victor Aguado had no chance of stopping. Fifteen minutes into the match, forward Carlos Castenada took a pass from Perez inside the penalty area and made a lazy 15-yard shot for a 1-0 lead.
Ten minutes later, Perez rocketed an uncontested 20-yard shot from just outside the penalty area into the net to make it 2-0, then made a 50-yard sprint to the Guatemala bench in celebration.
“I was excited,” Perez said. “I was a bit surprised.”
Guadalajara scored seven minutes before halftime when Luis Plascencia took a a centering pass and scored from close range.
After Perez scored his second goal, Octavio Mora made it 3-2 when he capped a 20-yard run with a goal in the 73rd minute. Mora almost sent the game into overtime with an 18-yard lob over Guatemala goalkeeper Ricardo Piccinini that bounced off the cross bar.
In the first game Sunday, El Salvador’s national team beat Ireland’s Olympic team, 1-0, for third place. The total attendance for the two-day tournament was 34,033.
