Guatemala's Maria Monterroso (left) looks to gain possession against Honduras in their Women's World Cup qualifier on May 22, 2014, in Guatemala City.
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Guatemala ensured progression with a second consecutive win, while Panama and Costa Rica secured their first points, as qualifying in Central America for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup continued on Thursday at the Estadio Mateo Flores.
In a dramatic encounter, the host Guatemalans topped Honduras, 3-2, to seal a place in the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, the confederation’s final round of qualifying for Canada 2015. Though both sides, as well as Panama, could potentially complete Group I play with six points and in a tie for first place, Guatemala will advance due to victories over its rivals.
The Monterroso sisters – daughters of head coach Benjamin Monterroso – struck for a goal apiece as Guatemala surged to 2-0 lead before the break. Coralia netted in the eighth minute, while Maria made it two goals in two games a minute into first-half stoppage time.
In the 61st minute, Jenny Alarcon, who scored four goals against in an 8-0 victory Belize on Tuesday, halved the deficit for Honduras.
Diana Barrera restored the Chapinas’ two-goal cushion in the 77th minute, a tally that proved to be essential as Alexandra Hall pulled one back for the Hondurans with five minutes left in normal time.
In the opener, Panama bounced back from a disappointing 1-0 loss to Guatemala on Tuesday with a 13-1 triumph over Belize. According to FIFA records, it was the most goals scored by the Canaleras in a full international since a 15-2 win over the Belizeans on November 21, 2003.
Marta Cox (38’, 55’, 71’, 82’) led the way with four goals and Amarelis De Mera (69’, 90’, 90’+2) struck for a hat-trick.
Panama took an early 1-0 lead through Candace Johnson (6’) and were up 3-1 after 17 minutes on a pair of own-goals. Kursha Pollard (17’) scored Belize’s only goal.
Natalia Mills (31’), Cindy Sotillo (59’) and Emely Dow (73’) also netted in a winning effort.
Costa Rica opened its qualifying campaign and concluded the triple-header with a 4-0 Group II win over El Salvador.
Wendy Acosta (15’) and Raquel Rodriguez Cedeño (43’) gave the Ticas a 2-0 first-half lead, while Katherine Alvarado (50’) and Lixy Maria Rodriguez (51’) put the game out of reach shortly after the break.
The Ticas will secure Central America’s other spot in the CONCACAF event with a win or a draw against Nicaragua on Saturday.
Guatemala and the eventual Group II winner will meet on May 26 for a single place in the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.
2014 CENTRAL AMERICAN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
Guatemala City, Guatemala – Estadio Mateo Flores
GROUP I
Results
May 20, 2014
Honduras 8, Belize 0
Guatemala 1, Panama 0
May 22, 2014
Belize 1, Panama 13
Guatemala 3, Honduras 2
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | P |
| *Guatemala | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Panama | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 3 |
| Honduras | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 3 |
| Belize | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
* advances to 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship
Remaining Games (all times local)
May 24, 2014
Panama v Honduras, 10:30 a.m.
Guatemala v Belize, 1:00 p.m.
GROUP II
Results
May 20, 2014
Nicaragua 0, El Salvador 2
May 22, 2014
El Salvador 0, Costa Rica 4
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | P |
| Costa Rica | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| El Salvador | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Nicaragua | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Remaining Games (all times local)
May 24, 2014
Costa Rica v Nicaragua, 3:30 p.m.
GOALSCORERS
FIVE
Jenny Alarcon, Honduras
FOUR
Marta Cox, Panama
THREE
Amarelis DeMera, Panama
TWO
Maria Monterroso, Guatemala
own-goal in favor of, Panama
ONE
Wendy Acosta, Costa Rica
Katherine Alvarado, Costa Rica
Waleska Amaya, Honduras
Diana Barrera, Guatemala
Ingris Castellon, Honduras
Emely Dow, Panama
Francisca del Carmen Gonzalez, El Salvador
Alexandra Hall
Candace Johnson, Panama
Natalia Mills, Panama
Coralia Andrea Monterroso, Guatemala
Kursha Pollard, Belize
Damaris Quelez, El Salvador
Fanny Rodriguez, Honduras
Lixy Maria Rodriguez, Costa Rica
Raquel Rodriguez Cedeño, Costa Rica
Cindy Sotillo, Panama
Wendy Umanzor, Honduras
