Big first half lifts French Guiana over Guatemala

CAYENNE. - French Guiana topped Guatemala 2-0 on Thursday night at the Stade Georges Chaumet, getting a pair of goals in the first half and protecting the clean sheet to start its 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League campaign in Group D of League B with a victory.

It is the first defeat Guatemala has ever suffered in Concacaf Nations League play after a perfect run through its League C group in the inaugural tournament.

In the eighth minute, Joel Sarrucco got the ball in the box with his back to goal, turned and shot as a trio of Guatemalan defenders closed, but none of them could keep the opener from going in.
Guatemala nearly had an immediate answer through Antonio de Jesus Lopez, whose 11th-minute free kick snaked through the wall but was saved by French Guiana GK Donovan Leon.
Just as Guatemala was growing into the game, French Guiana was able to double its advantage. Thomas Nemouthe came from the right side of attack, dipping his shoulder to get into the box and then putting the ball on his right and shooting past GK Ricardo Jerez.

Guatemala fought back, with manager Luis Fernando Tena making a quartet of modifications at the half, including handing FW Rubio Rubin his Guatemala debut, but Los Chapines couldn’t find a way past Leon.

The French Guiana goalkeeper looked to be beaten in the 80th minute when MF Alejandro Galindo chipped a pass over the back line into the path of substitute forward Andres Lezcano. He put that shot on the bar and was again free for a header from a free kick three minutes later, but sent that shot wide.

Guatemala now returns home to square off with Belize, while French Guiana travels to face the Dominican Republic. Both matches are on June 5.