Guatemala 4 - 2 Magyarország (376979618)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 131209 at David Ordoñez Bardales today. Francesco Collu was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Mikael Uusitalo and Claudio Alcides Fiori. Guatemala tactics involved an interesting 2-5-3 combination. Lineup: Martell - Arroyo, Arguedas - Cascante, Campuzano, Olguín, Záyas, Cambronero - Montero, Noyola, Toledo.

Magyarország started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Kerékgyártó - Fodor, Lövész, Huszár - Gubán, Sidó, Puskás, Tóbiás, Erdős - Majoros, Pinczehelyi.

Guatemala seemed to prefer attacking in the middle. F. Toledo caused the crowd to go mental with his goal up the middle after 16 minutes. This gave Guatemala the 1 - 0 lead. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. R. Montero squirmed through their central defence after 27 minutes, increasing the lead to 2 - 0. Magyarország reduced the lead after 28 minutes to 2 - 1 as E. Majoros easily chipped the ball past the home side's keeper after a dazzling play from the right. Guatemala's F. Toledo saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 30 minutes. The teams went for the halftime break at 2 - 1. Guatemala had most of the ball, with 57 percent of possession.

The referee showed Magyarország's I. Gubán the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Guatemala's O. Martell refused to leave the field after injuring his achilles tendon after 63 minutes. Guatemala solidified their lead at the 64 minute mark, as M. Noyola dribbled the ball through the opposing central defence and scored to make it 3 - 1. Guatemala players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. 76 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as R. Montero broke through, making the score 4 - 1 for Guatemala. By now, the players in Guatemala felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. Guatemala's R. Campuzano swung in a good chance from the left, but the visitors' defence were able to clear the ball. The away team improved the scoreline to 4 - 2, as E. Majoros struck home, set up well by a play on the left 82 minutes into the match. Guatemala claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 56 percent.

Guatemala's best player was R. Montero. A. Arguedas turned in a dismal performance, however. I. Pinczehelyi performed admirably for Magyarország. On the other hand, I. Gubán's play was disheartening. The match ends 4 - 2.