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By Joseph D'Hippolito
CONCACAF.com

CARSON, California - El Salvador won the debut match of new manager Juan de Dios Castillo, getting a first-half goal from Nelson Bonilla and outlasting Guatemala to prevail 1-0 Saturday night in a friendly at The Home Depot Center in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson.

Bonilla scored in the 28th minute on a 24-meter shot into the upper-right corner of the net while surrounded by three defenders.

The match was the first of two friendlies in five days for both sides before resuming World Cup qualifying next month. They will play again on Wednesday in Washington with Guatemala facing Paraguay and El Salvador playing Jamaica.

Castillo took over last month for Ruben Israel, who resigned in a dispute with the Instituto Nacional de Deportes de El Salvador - or INDES, which provides funding to the federation -- and its president, former player and coach Jaime Rodriguez.

Both teams have only one point in two matches in the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying.

Guatemala had two chances to move ahead early. Mario Rodriguez took a 13-yard shot on a breakaway in the 13th minute. But goalkeeper Benji Villalobos charged off his line to deflect the shot.

Then in the 21st minute, Carlos Ruiz struck a 19-yard shot that hit the left post. Rodriguez converted the rebound but was ruled offside.

Ruiz, Guatemala's all-time scoring leader with 49 international goals, had three more chances force a draw.

Rodriguez sent a right-wing cross to Ruiz in the 33rd minute with two defenders out of position. The unmarked Ruiz tried to convert with his right instep but sent the ball just wide of the left post from eight meters.

In the 77th minute, Ruiz chest trapped a pass, pivoted to his right and fired a shot from 11 meters that Villalobos blocked the shot with his left arm.

Then early in second-half stoppage time, a sliding Ruiz tried to convert Henry Lopez's header but directed the ball barely wide of the left post from five yards.

Rodriguez also had an opportunity to tie the score in the 45th minute by trying to convert with his right instep. But Rodriguez hit the ball off his left ankle, and El Salvador's Elder Figueroa cleared the deflection.