Guatemala defeats Croatia 1-0 to advance

Guatemala defeats Croatia 1-0 to advance

Published Aug. 7, 2011 4:12 a.m. ET

Marvin Ceballos scored in the 81st minute to give Guatemala a 1-0 victory over Croatia on Saturday and the last berth in the 16-team knockout stage of the Under 20-World Cup.

Ceballos scored when he chipped the ball past keeper Matej Delac.

Guatemala finished third in Group D with three points. Croatia lost all three matches and was eliminated. The Central Americans, who had a goal-difference of minus-10, advanced as one of the best four third-place teams. Nigeria and Saudi Arabia also advanced automatically as the top two teams in Group D.

Guatemala had the edge throughout the match and deserved the victory.

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Both teams played cautiously in the first half. A draw would have eliminated both and allowed New Zealand - which played in Group B - to reach the round-of-16.

The best early chance for either team came in the 47th minute when Guatemala's Abner Bonilla, a second-half substitute, hit the post with a close-range header.

Croatia had its first threatening shot in the 53rd when Roberto Puncec headed the ball over the crossbar.

Ceballos also came close in the 65th, and a minute later he delivered a cross to Manuel Moreno who was stopped by Croatian keeper Delac.

Croatia's Ivan Lendric also came close in the 70th, lobbing a ball that just missed finding the far corner.

Guatemala keeper Roberto Padilla came up with a big save in the 88th to preserve the victory.

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