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Small consolation Mexico trounces Guatemala for third place
Posted: Sunday April 30, 2000 05:03 PM
HERSHEY, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Mexico, after failing to qualify for the Sydney Olympics, salvaged something from the CONCACAF tournament Sunday be beating Guatemala 5-0 for third place. By finishing third, the Mexicans assured they would be the alternate team from the region should the United States or Honduras be disqualified from the 2000 Games for any reason. Mexico, favored in the qualifying event before being stunned in a shootout by Honduras in the semifinals, took a 2-0 halftime lead with both goals came off set pieces. Juan Pablo Rodriguez, whose penalty kick miss Friday night led to Mexico's defeat, sent a 40-yard (36-meter) free kick toward the left goal post that was headed in by Joaquin Beltran in the 23rd minute. Rodriguez was the set-up man on the other goal 20 minutes later. His corner kick was back-headed into the far corner by Adrian Sanchez. Guatemala fell into an even deeper hole in the final seconds of the opening half when Denis Chen was ejected for arguing with the referee. The Mexicans, with a brisk wind at their backs in the second half, poured it on. Daniel Osorno made it 3-0 in the 55th minute. Rodriquez connected four minutes later with a header off a cross from Jorge Collazo. Cesareo Victorino finished it off with a short shot in the 82nd.
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