Guatemala's Marco Pappa scored against El Salvador in an international friendly on October 13, 2015, in Carson, California. (File Photo: Mexsport)
CARSON, California – Guatemala outlasted El Salvador, 4-2 on penalty kicks, to capture the Delta Cup after they played to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday at the StubHub Center.
Marco Pappa gave the Guatemalans a lead in the 30th minute with a shot from distance, but Ibsen Castro leveled the score in the 69th minute.
New El Salvador head coach Ramon Maradiaga was optimistic despite finishing without a win in his first two games in charge. The Cuscatlecos also fell 3-1 to Haiti on Friday in Houston.
"From the two games, I take positive things, not only from the one against Guatemala,” said the former Honduras national team star and manager. "Against Haiti, it was the first contact with the group and I think we are on track.
Both sides are preparing for the start of fourth-round qualifying in CONCACAF for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. El Salvador will visit Mexico on November 13, while Guatemala hosts Trinidad & Tobago the same day.
