MAZATENANGO, Guatemala -- Guatemala beat Costa Rica 2-1 Wednesday,
setting up a rematch to decide who will join the United States in the final
round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.
Carlos Ruiz scored both goals for Guatemala, including the winner with four
minutes left, which would have been eliminated if it had lost or if the game
ended in a tie.
"We always had hope, we never lost it," Guatemalan coach Julio Cesar
Cortes said. "We played such a strong game it really seemed to us we would
win."
The U.S. team clinched a spot in the next round by beating Barbados 4-0 in a
game that kicked off at the same time.
In South American qualifying, Brazil beat Colombia 1-0 on defender Roque
Junior's goal in the last minute, and Bolivia tied Uruguay 0-0.
Guatemala took the lead seven minutes into the second half. Forward Edgar
Valencia's shot landed in front of Ruiz, who used his chest to get the ball
past goalkeeper Alvaro Mesen.
The visitors tied the score in the 60th minute, when Rodrigo Cordero outran
three defenders and slid a shot in.
Ruiz then won the game by knocking in a perfect pass.
Costa Rica played the game under protest, saying Guatemalans blared music
and lit fireworks Tuesday outside the visitors' hotel.
Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo and Costa Rican President Miguel Angel
Rodriguez were in the stands at Carlos Salazar Jr. Stadium, about 100 miles
southwest of Guatemala City. The temperature was nearly 90 degrees at kickoff.
The date and site of the tiebreaking game -- Costa Rica beat Guatemala 2-1 at
home in August -- were not immediately announced.
One of those countries will join the United States, Honduras, Jamaica,
Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago in next year's final phase of qualifying in the
North and Central American and Caribbean region. The top three teams advance to
the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
AP NEWS
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