Mexico closed out the Group stage of the u20 CONCACAF Championship by defeating Guatemala by a 4-0 score. Mexico completely dominated the match from the start and were the overly superior team. The win meant Mexico moves to the Quarterfinals as a group winner with all 9 points acquired. Guatemala will now have to await results to see if they can make it thru as one of the two best placed third place teams.
The 1st half started with Luis Gamboa taking the place of the injured Santiago Sandoval, who
would miss the rest of the tournament because of a hand fracture. A cross into the area from Juan Sigala would just be out of reach of Samir Inda before it reached Guatemala’s goalkeeper, Rogelio Barrera. Off a free kick, a cross into the area was headed by Diego Ramirez but Barrera would make a save on it and Guatemala’s defense would then clear the ball. Mexico was controlling possession as Guatemala sat back and defended. A cross into the area was just missed by Hugo Camberos, who would have a close range volley had he gotten to the ball. After making a great run into the area, Camberos got off a shot that went wide. Edwin Soto got off a left footed shot that Barrera saved but had he score, it would have been overruled for offside. Luis Gomez got off a shot from outside the area that Barrera easily saved. Off a free kick, a cross into the area was headed from close range by Gamboa but deflected wide by a Guatemalan defender in a wasted chance. A cross into the area would be headed by a wide open Diego Ramirez past Barrera to score and to finally give Mexico the 1-0 lead. It was a deserved goal as Mexico had dominated the match from the start. The whistle would blow and Mexico would take the lead to halftime
The 2nd half started with Guatemala subbing out Pablo Arias for Justin Pacay. Mexico was completely dominating but no dangerous chances were created. After a good give and go, the ball would be deflected into the path of Hugo Camberos, who got off a low right footed shot that Barrera got a hand to but the ball would still go in to score and give Mexico the 2-0 lead. It was a totally deserved goal for Camberos, who was Mexico’s best player in the match. A cross into the area would eventually fall to Avila but his right footed shot went wide. Mexico continued to dominate as Guatemala looked finished. Mexico subbed out Hugo Camberos and Luis Gomez for Diego Reyes and Nelson Cedillo. Guatemala subbed out Marvin Avila and Yordi Aguilar for Gary Perez and Mayron Gonzalez. A great long ball pass from Sigala would win Luis Gamboa, who got into the area and got off a right footed shot past Barrera and into the net to score and place the score at 3-0. The scoreline now reflected the dominance Mexico had in the match. Gamboa got off a right footed shot from outside the area but it went wide. Mexico subbed out Juan Sigala and Cristobal Alfaro for Henrique Simeone and Juan Echilvestre. A bad clearance from Soto would allow the ball to fall for Gonzalez but his shot was deflected wide. Mexico kept controlling possession and although they weren’t creating chances, they had complete control of the game. Mexico subbed out Edwin Soto for Carlos Hernandez. Guatemala subbed out Oscar de Leon for Paolo Arreaga. Off a free kick, Reyes got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. The match started getting chippy with Guatemala making a number of fouls. Off a free kick, Nelson Cedillo got off a marvelous left footed shot that went past Barrera and into the net for a fantastic goal that increased the lead to 4-0. The final whistle blew and Mexico had made it three out of three in the group stage.
Mexico saved the best for last as they trounced Guatemala in the final group stage. Mexico was the better side from the start and gave their best game of the group stage even after missing a key player in Sandoval. The win had Mexico winning the group and with a high possibility of ending as the best ranked team for the Quarterinfals, depending on Friday’s match between the United States and Cuba. Mexico gave the best performance as a team although it came against a Guatemalan side that went defensive from the start and gave a very poor performance. Guatemala will now have to await results to see if they can go thru as one of the two best third placed teams. Mexico meanwhile awaits rival as they should be heavy favorites to go thru to the U20 World Cup, which is decided on the Quarterfinals.
