National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Mauricio Hidalgo took the kick off in the first half of the match. Mauricio Hidalgo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 6th minute. Filipo Bergada tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Filipo Bergada took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mauricio Hidalgo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mauricio Hidalgo in the 12th minute of play forced Paraguay's goalkeeper Filipo Bergada to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With his leg Filipo Bergada managed to avoid a goal in the 15thth minute, when Guatemala's Mauricio Hidalgo fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. If Denis Candia had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 22 minutes into the match, Guatemala's goal looked a bit too open when Jurgi Fonseca came free, but Alexander Mejia reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 28th minute, Paolo Talia hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After some fancy dribbling in the 29th minute, Pepito Hualde managed to get in a good position for a shot. Paraguay's supporters rose to their feet, but Pepito Hualde was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Alexander Mejia breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Filipo Bergada made an important save on a dangerous shot by Mauricio Hidalgo in the 34th minute. After 35 minutes Paraguay's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Esteban Rey who took care of the corner kick. The corner led Guatemala's Esteban Rey to fire away a dangerous shot which Filipo Bergada despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 36th match minute, Paraguay was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Santiago-Martin Irala to maneuver through the defense. 41 minutes into the match, Guatemala's goal looked a bit too open when Denis Candia came free, but Alexander Mejia reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

Paraguay's Domingo Echeverría was substituted for Pepito Hualde. Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Harkaitz Ilarraza to make the kick off. Alexander Mejia showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Denis Candia in the 59th minute of the match. 59 minutes into the match, Denis Candia had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Alexander Mejia. Guatemala's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Denis Candia was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. In the 64th minute, Mauricio Hidalgo got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Filipo Bergada made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dagoberto Magaña in the 66th minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Rodrigo González during the 71st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Alexander Mejia had in the 72ndth minute some difficulties stopping Tadzio Iturburu's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. 72 minutes into the match, Tadzio Iturburu had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Alexander Mejia. Guatemala's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Tadzio Iturburu was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-2. An unexpectedly hard shot by Harkaitz Ilarraza in the 77th minute of play forced Guatemala's goalkeeper Alexander Mejia to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Esteban Rey got a throw-in 79 minutes in the game and the ball was received by Rodrigo González. Douglas Galdamez's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Filipo Bergada read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 87th minute of play. Guatemala were awarded a corner in the 89th minute after Paraguay's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Esteban Rey took the corner. Guatemala walked away with a well-earned victory that was much celebrated by the crowd.