Honduras players (pictured) celebrate after advancing to the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship final and qualifying for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup with a win over Guatemala on March 11, 2015, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. (Photo: Mexsport)

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – Honduras (3-2-0, 11 points) clinched a second straight trip to the FIFA U-17 World Cup, earning a 2-1 win over 10-man Guatemala (1-1-3, 4 points) in the 2015 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship on Wednesday. 

The tournament host finished atop Group A, one point ahead of Jamaica (3-1-1, 10 points) and the United States (3-1-1, 10 points).  The Jamaicans claimed second place on the head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to their 1-0 win over the U.S. in the second game of a tripleheader at the Estadio Francisco Morazan.

Honduras took the lead and gained a man advantage early in the encounter, when goalkeeper Gilder Lemus fouled Darixon Vuelto in the penalty area, causing him to flip in the air.  Referee Mathieu Bourdeau pointed to the spot and showed Lemus a yellow for his infraction.  Then, Guatemalan defender Mario Rodas was ejected after kicking the ball at Bourdeau from eight-yards away.

When the dust finally settled in the eighth minute, team captain Allan Rivera fired his penalty kick into the lower-left corner to give Honduras a 1-0 lead.

Despite being reduced to 10 players, Guatemala did not modify its game plan and leveled in the 26th minute.  From 35-yards out, Ganzalo Deras lofted a threatening free kick into the Honduran goal box, where Esteban Garcia headed forcefully into the back of the net at the right post. 

Garcia nearly scored again, but after a long down the middle for a ball played out of the back, his shot from outside the box was saved by right-diving goalkeeper Jose Aguiluz.

Vuelto would net what proved to be the game-winning goal in 38th minute.  Oslin Sevilla made a strong run down the left towards the top of the penalty area.  He cut inside, drew a defender and played a square pass to an unmarked Vuelto.  The forward took two touches, before releasing his shot, which hit off a charging Lemus and drifted into the net.

The second half produced limited scoring opportunities and as the final whistle blew, the home crowd of 11,512, players and coaches celebrated yet another World Cup qualification. 

Honduras will next meet the Group B winner in Sunday’s final, while Jamaica and the U.S. advance to single-game playoffs, which will decide the Confederation’s last two representatives at Chile 2015.

NOTES: Honduras qualified for three previous U-17 World Cups (2007, 2009, 2013).