SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Defending champion Honduras edged upstart Belize, 1-0, Friday night in the semifinals of the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana to earn a place in the championship match against the winner of the late match between host Costa Rica and El Salvador.

The teams played through an extremely active, but scoreless, first half in which the chances came frequently and were evenly divided. Top-notch goalkeeping from Belizean Woodrow West and his Honduran opposite number Donis Escober denied multiple scoring opportunities.

The proceedings became increasingly tense as the second half got underway, with both squads aware that a trip to the final was on the line.

Honduras came close several times through the pairing of U.S.-based attackers Oscar Boniek Garcia and Jerry Bengtson. But it was Belize with the clearest chance of the second half's early going, when right back Evan Mariano tried his luck from distance, only to miss just wide.

The Catrachos finally broke through in the 67th minute, as rambling right back Bryan Beckeles got up the field and into the Belizean area, where he rifled a shot past West for the 1-0 advantage. It was the 27-year-old's first international goal, though, he has scored twice in the CONCACAF Champions League for Olimpia.

Belize continued to attack bravely and had its best minutes in the late going, when Elroy Smith curled in a free kick that was narrowly cleared out for a corner by the Honduran defense.

Despite the Belizean pressure, Honduras managed to hang on for a narrow victory.

The Hondurans head into Sunday's final unbeaten in their last eight Copa Centroamericana games and have conceded one goal or less in their last 14 outings in the competition.

After not playing a game in 2012, Belize will contest its fifth in 10 days in the third-place match, also on Sunday.