This Sunday the complete panorama of the Guatemala First Division League was defined after the simultaneous dispute of all the matches of matchday 18 at 11:00 AM. In Group A, San Pedro FC and Deportivo Gomerano sealed their direct ticket to the quarterfinals as the first two in the group, while in Group B, CSD Chiquimulilla and Iztapa did the same, qualifying directly to the next round without the need for a playoff.
The three relegations of the season were confirmed with the day. Chimaltenango FC, which lost 5-1 to Nueva Santa Rosa, is relegated as last in the accumulated table of Group B. Nueva Concepción also loses the category after losing 3-1 to Quiché FC in the most important duel of the day, a result that was not enough to save its place in the First Division.
The third relegation fell to Dep. Carchá, who despite leading the Clausura of Group B and winning 0-1 on their visit to Santa Lucía, turned out to be the worst ninth of both groups in the accumulated table, so according to article 24 of the regulations they will not be able to play in the final phases of the tournament.
Group A Results
The Group A day was marked by two impact results. The Empire of Quiché FC defeated Nueva Concepción 3-1 at the Santa Cruz Municipal Stadium in the most emotional duel of the date, with a double from Víctor Palacio that sealed permanence for the imperials. The other win of the group was Dep. Gomerano’s 7-0 victory over Chichicasteco FC at the Pedro Coronado Stadium, a result that catapulted the Gomeranistas to second place in the group.
Results:
- Suchitepéquez 4-0 Juventud Copalera — Carlos Salazar Jr. Stadium
- Huehuetecos FC 1-3 Coatepeque FC — Los Cuchumatanes Stadium
- San Pedro FC 3-0 Aguacatán FC — San Pedro Municipal Stadium
- Dep. Gomerano 7-0 Chichicasteco FC — Pedro Coronado Stadium
- Quiché FC 3-1 Nueva Concepción — Santa Cruz Municipal Stadium
Group B Results
Group B also left defining results. Nueva Santa Rosa defeated the White Swans of Chimaltenango FC 5-1, sealing the relegation of the Chimaltecos in a resounding manner. Iztapa won 3-2 in a great game to ensure its direct qualification to the quarterfinals, while AFF Guatemala surprised San Benito 3-2 at the Julio A. Cobar Stadium.
Results:
- CSD Sacachispas 1-0 CSD Ipala — Las Victorias Stadium
- Chiquimulilla 3-2 Dep. Iztapa — Los Conacastes Stadium
- FC Santa Lucía 1-0 Dep. Carchá — Santa Lucía Municipal Stadium
- AFF Guatemala 3-2 San Benito FC — Julio A. Cobar Stadium
- Nueva Santa Rosa 5-1 Chimaltenango FC — Pedro G. Arredondo Stadium
The keys to access the quarterfinals
The teams from third to sixth place in each group will compete in the access phase in round-trip series crossed between groups to define the last four tickets to the quarterfinals. The confirmed matches are the following: AFF Guatemala vs. Chichicasteco FC, Santa Lucía vs. Suchitepéquez, Huehuetencos vs. Nueva Santa Rosa and Coatepeque vs. San Benito FC. The four winners of this phase will join the four teams that qualified directly to complete the quarterfinal draw.
