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El Salvador beat Guatemala, advance in Gold Cup
© Reuters 2002
PASADENA, California, Jan 23 (Reuters) - El Salvador won through to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over old rivals Guatemala.
Guatemala struggled to rediscover the attacking flair they showed during their opening 3-1 loss to Mexico while El Salvador were content to sit back and rely on their well organised defense during a disappointing first half. In the second half, Guatemala started to throw more men forward in search of a breakthrough.
However, it was El Salvador who took the lead in the 57th minute when an unmarked Santos Cabrera fired home from 15 yards.
Guatemala continued to press forward and had a claim for a penalty denied in the 67th minute when El Salvador defender Victor Velasquez appeared to handle the ball while attempting to clear a high cross.
El Salvador - who needed only a draw to advance - grew in confidence as the game progressed and looked increasingly dangerous on the break and nearly added to their lead several times during the last few minutes. El Salvador will play the United States in a quarter-final clash in Pasadena on Sunday.
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