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GUATEMALA CITY - Humberto Escobar scored his fifth goal of the tournament to send defending champion Guatemala back to the title game at the CONCACAF Futsal Championship, leading "Los Chapines" to a 3-0 victory over Mexico Friday night.
Escobar's strike in the 24th minute came after Guatemala outshot the Mexicans 9-1 in the first half and largely kept the visitors pinned in their own end.
Guatemala will face Central American rival Costa Rica in Sunday's championship match, while Mexico will play Panama for third place. Costa Rica won Friday's first semifinal 4-1 over Panama.
Escobar scored with a right-footed volley, driving Edgar Macal's lifted ball that bounced once on the right side just outside the penalty area between Mexican keeper Alonso Saavedra and the near post.
Guatemala had a chance to double the lead less than a minute and a half later, but Alan Aguilar sent his penalty attempt from the second spot well over the bar.
Rafael Gonzalez, however, added the insurance, converting penalties from the second spot with 4:43 and 3:58 remaining to the delight of the capacity crowd. He missed a chance for a third, sending that attempt off the left post in the 38th minute.
Mexico was limited to a handful of dangerous threats, with Guatemala keeper Carlos Merida thwarting all of them - including Morgan Plata's sharp left-footed drive from the edge of the penalty area at the left post in the 33rd minute.
The result ended Mexico's three-match unbeaten streak against Guatemala at the CONCACAF championship.
Guatemala won its fourth straight at this championship, having outscored its opponents 15-6.
