Olympic Qualifying Result: Guatemala 2 Mexico 1

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After the game with Canada two days ago Mexican Coach Hugo Sanchez said he wasn't worried because his team hadn't lost.

He's worried now.

Despite out-shooting its opponents 17-10, Mexico was upset by Guatamala 2-1 Friday night before 19,638 fans at the Home Depot Center.

"They're just another team," said Guatemalan Coach Rodrigo Kenyon.

The result means Mexico must win Sunday against Haiti and either hopes Canada doesn't win or scores fewer goals (or allows more) in their game against Guatemala. Because if the two teams are even (as they are now) on goal difference and goals scored it will come down to a coin flip.

"We're under fire, we have to show what this team is capable of and we have to attack," Sanchez said.

The only Mexican goal came from American-born Edgar Castillo in the ninth minute after the Guatemalan defense failed to clear its box, leaving one to wonder what Sanchez is thinking now considering his criticism of his predecessor for using naturalized American citizens on the team.

But Guatemala doggedly stayed in the game five minutes before half time when a long ball from Jean Marquez caught the Mexican defense napping and Carlos Villa, one of a half dozen CSD Municipal players on the roster, raced through to score.

Guatemala sealed victory in the 67th minute on a Maynor Ignacio Lopez header from a corner kick.

"They were more effective in their finishing," said Sanchez, calling his opponents "just conquerors."

He also blamed the media for giving his players "bad vibes" for getting on them for not scoring goals.

"We've done good things, not everything has been bad," he protested.

True.

Just most things, Hugo.

More here.

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About 100 Percent Soccer


Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Nick Green published on March 14, 2008 11:18 PM.

Olympic Qualifying Final From Carson: Haiti 2 Canada 1 was the previous entry in this blog.

Saturday Soccer Update is the next entry in this blog.

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