Guatemala City, 24 Mar Guatemala's national team surpassed its Cuban counterpart 1-0 this Thursday in the premiere of Mexican coach Luis Fernando Tena as coach of the Central American country, after being hired last December. The winning goal for the Guatemalan team came in the 29th minute of the friendly match with Carlos Mejia, Antigua's midfielder in local football. The triumph marks the premiere of the Mexican coach at the helm of the Guatemalan national team since his hiring last December, when he replaced his compatriot, Rafael Loredo, who held the position on an interim basis. Loredo, in turn, had taken office left by Amarini Villatoro in July 2021. This Thursday's match between Guatemalans and Cubans served both teams as preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualifier to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, as both Central Americans and the Caribbean were left out of the way to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Thursday's clash took place at the Pensativo stadium in Antigua Guatemala, located about 50 kilometers west of the country's capital. Castrillo scored the goal that made the difference on the scoreboard after escaping with the ball in the middle of the Cuban defense, and subsequently dribbled the goalkeeper of the Caribbean national team, Nelson Johnston. For Cuba, led by Pablo Elier Sánchez, the match was uphill at most times at the Pensativo stadium, but mainly in the first half, where Guatemala had more clarity and dominance. Tena had as the backbone of his team defender Gerardo Gordillo, from Gualaceo of the Ecuadorian first division and midfielder Antonio López, from Mexican Necaxa, as well as goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen, who plays for Hamkam in the Norwegian league. Also active for the host team was the Guatemalan nationalized Costa Rican Andrés Lezcano, who plays for Comunicaciones, current runner-up in local football. Tena originally planned to debut against Bolivia in La Paz on January 19, but the clash was suspended, as was another clash on January 22 in Miami against Canada, due to covid-19. Guatemala will now travel to the United States to face Haiti on March 27 at DRV PNK Stadium, in Fort Lauderdale, in Florida, United States, in another friendly match. Tena aims to be the first coach to lead Guatemala to a World Cup in the absolute category, as in 2011 Paraguayan Éver Hugo Almeida won the feat with the U-20 team that qualified for the World Cup in the category in Colombia 2011.
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