Guatemala-Armenia Match Finishes in a Deadlock, 1-1

Those hoping to score some points in the raging Latin American versus European soccer debate got few answers Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum.

Guatemala, ranked 73rd in the latest FIFA world rankings, and Armenia, ranked 85th, showed few signs of their provincial styles. Rather, the international exhibition “friendly” match in front of a pro-Guatemalan crowd of about 15,312 was an exercise in physical and often dirty play.

The resulting 1-1 tie produced more player ejections (three) than goals (two).

Of the five yellow cards issued during the match, Guatemala received four.

Armenia opened the scoring in the game’s 20th minute.

Forward Gagik Manukyan’s goal came on a breakaway play from the right side after a nifty back-heel pass from forward Aram Hakobyan. From about 15 yards out, Manukyan launched his shot into the upper left-hand corner past Guatemala’s outstretched goalkeeper, Edgar Estrada.

Guatemala evened things with four minutes remaining in the half.

Forward Fredy Garcia worked a give-and-go in the middle of the field with linemate German Ruano. After passing the ball back and forth, Garcia fired from about 25 yards out, eluding Armenia’s diving goalkeeper, Harutyn Abrahamyan.

Until Guatemala’s score, Armenia had pretty much dominated the half, keeping the ball in front of the Guatemalan net while forcing the game’s tempo.

It was a physical half as well, with Guatemalan forward Cesar Corleto being carried off on a stretcher after a collision with Armenian midfielder Haruttun Vardanyan, who returned with his head wrapped in theatrical fashion.

Julio Giron, who replaced Corleto, promptly got himself red-carded seconds before the half after a shoving match with a group of Armenians. Armenian forward Rafael Nazaryan was also red-carded as a result of the scuffle.

Guatemalan defender Marion Acevedo was the third player of the game to be ejected, when he picked up his second yellow card of the game midway through the second half after a hard slide tackle.

The second-half tempo was forced by Guatemala.

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Iran lost its first soccer game on U.S. soil, 2-1, to Mexico. The exhibition at Oakland Coliseum drew 34,289 fans, with strong and vocal support for both teams.

Mexico’s Luis Hernandez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored the game’s first two goals. Ali Daei scored for Iran in the 26th minute.