"Why would we ask about the past if we've just won a very important game?" said Guatemala head coach Ever Hugo Almeida after the match.  "It's a historic victory, the first time we've ever beaten Jamaica.We have to celebrate that because it puts the team close."

Friday night was historic in that Guatemala had never beaten Jamaica at the senior level in 13 previous meetings.  The triumph, and three precious points, puts the nation a giant step closer to the objective of advancing to the region's final round of qualifying next year.

The 2-1 win over the Caribbean visitors was without a doubt at times agonizing.  After an early 16th minute goal by Carlos Figueroa put the host ahead, much to the jubilation of the packed house at the Estadio Mateo Flores, the Jamaicans managed to equalize from the penalty spot sixteen minutes into the second period.

Twenty-five heart wrenching minutes later, the eternal Guatemalan goal hero -- Carlos Ruiz -- put the Chapines on top for good, nodding home a corner with authority to secure the spoils and an inside track to the hexagonal.

The result, combined with the United States' dramatic win at Group A straggler Antigua, leaves things far from settled with just one match to play.  Guatemala and the United States remained deadlocked on top of the table, both with ten points and a plus-three goal differential.

The Central Americans now face perhaps their toughest test to date, as they head to the U.S. to take on a U.S. team still fighting for its own ticket to the hexagonal.

"It's still a tough road, that's clear," said Almeida.  "But we're determined to do it.  We have a spectacular group of players who are determined to fight."

Despite Friday's big win, the possible outcomes in Group A for the Chapines are still rather complicated.  Guatemala knows it must take at least a point from its final match day showdown in the U.S., in order to clinch a spot in the final round.

A tie in Kansas City, Kansas, would serve both teams, sending the Americans and Guatemalans through at the expense of Jamaica.  Any loser in the matchup would then be forced to sweat it out, counting on a favorable result from the other group match between Jamaica and Antigua to determine its fate.

"We're going there to play for the result that's most convenient for us," said Guatemalan goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez.  "We want to win every game we play, but we know we're facing down a complicated rival.  We have a few days to think about and plan whatever's most convenient for us."

On Friday, even if Tuesday's game loomed large for Guatemala's chances of advancing to a first-ever World Cup, Almeida wanted no part in the speculation process.  The battle tested 64-year-old coach told anyone who would listen that for the Chapines, on the heels of the triumph over Jamaica, the night would be about resting and celebrating three hard-won points.

"Now, we can go eat, relax, and celebrate," said the coach.  "We'll rest easy and then we have a long, 24-hour trip, more or less, to Kansas.  During the trip we'll talk about what's next.  We have three or four days to think about that."