National Soccer
The Guatemala team signed one of its worst games under the project of Luis Fernando Tena and now has uphill the Classification to the Gold Cup 2025.
Guyana players celebrate their triumph against Guatemala. (Free press photo: screen capture)
On Friday night, March 21, the Guatemala selection faced Guyana in a visitor at the Technical BFA center of Barbados in a match valid for the preliminary round Rumbo to the Gold Cup 2025.
The national team did not set its best game, although it came from winning Honduras 2-1 in a friendly match, and the result ended in favor of Guyana.
The Bicolor’s performance was not expected since Guyana became an advantage in the 9th minute thanks to a goal by Isaiah Jones and although José Martínez tied to 29, again Jones gave him an advantage to his selection to 36.
When Luis Fernando Tena decided to move his pieces in the second tempo, Jones reappeared and marked his hattrick at minute 56, putting the uphill for Guatemala.
Guatemala vs Guyana: The first assault is from the Guyanese
In the second half Guatemala and Luis Fernando Tena sought the comeback, but they only managed to find the discount via the central defender José Pinto who marked a penalty that Pedro Altán won.
The Bicolor tried, more for push than by football, but did not reach him and Guyana celebrated a historical triumph of his selection.
Despite the surprise defeat, not everything is lost for Guatemala since it still has the second leg to seek to go around the scoreboard.
The second confrontation of the series between Guyana and Guatemala will be played on Tuesday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cementos Progreso Stadium in Guatemala City.
This will be the last opportunity that Guatemala will not be out of the Gold Cup, a tournament in which he reached the quarterfinals in the 2023 edition.