SoccerBlogs

photo courtesy of Zimbio/Getty Images

By JOSE M. ROMERO

It's an ugly day for soccer in Guatemala, with three national team players banned for life by FIFA for match-fixing, according to an Associated Press report.

Guillermo Ramirez, Gustavo Cabrera and Yoni Flores were all handed lifetime bans after an investigation found that the three were involved in fixing friendlies against Venezuela in 2011 and Costa Rica in May of this year, plus a CONCACAF Champions League group-stage match in October 2010 between CSD Municipal of Guatemala and Santos Laguna of Mexico.

The Unites States, Jamaica, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Panama all advanced to the hexagonal in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying on October 16, 2012.

The USA had a nervy start by conceding in the fifth minute but righted the ship with three first half goals. It was Carlos Bocanegra scoring the equalizer and then two goals from Clint Dempsey to put the Americans into the next round of qualifying.

Clint Dempsey and the US are moving on. (Getty Images)

At times it wasn't pretty or even worth watching but the US Men's National Team got it done when it mattered most last night in Kansas City. The US downed Guatemala 3-1 in route to claiming a group win in the CONCACAF semifinal qualifying round.

United States fans got an early scare on Tuesday night when Carlos Ruiz scored a goal in the 5th minute for Guatemala as it was taking on the United States in Kansas City during their final group stage match of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers for Brasil 2014. In the end, there was no need for US fans to begin the mourner's Kaddish or commission a requiem for the United States National team, because after 90 minutes plus change, it was the United States that was advancing to the Hexagonal thanks to one goal from Carlos Bocanegra and two goals from Clint Dempsey.

Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

Rumors out of Guatemala have placed former Philadelphia Union striker Carlos Ruiz in a potential transfer to move back to the City of Brotherly Love.

Just as some fish migrate upstream annually, a certain player is rumored to return to his former home of Philadelphia.

Of all of the possible transfer rumors to develop this offseason, the most unlikely one would always involve Carlos Ruiz.

Just as some fish migrate upstream annually, a certain player is rumored to return to his former home of Philadelphia.

Of all of the possible transfer rumors to develop this offseason, the most unlikely one would always involve Carlos Ruiz. According to multiple people and sites in Guatemala, it may not be so improbable.

Clint Dempsey responded to his poor performance last Friday with two goals and an assist to lead the United States men's national team to a 3-1 win over Guatemala. The win secured the group lead and the Nats passage onto the next round of World Cup qualifying, the "Hex".

Highlights:

Reaction:

Post-Game Press Conference:

Analysis from some of American soccer's best writers:

Will Parchman (The Shin Guardian) - "With A Hexclamation Point!

Clint Dempsey gets game-winner against Guatemala

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

The U.S. Men's National Team shook off Guatemala's early goal and proceeded to dominate the visitors in what was easily their best performance of the 2012 World Cup qualifying round. There were a plethora of standout evenings, particularly in the attack, that should give U.

It was not the greatest start but the United States ended up defeated Guatemela 3-1 to advance to the final round of qualifying.

The United States are not anything close to playing a style like Spain or Argentina and there's no way Klinsmann was going to transform the team in 14 months.

By IVES GALARCEP

The U.S. Men's National Team's busy summer is ready to get a little busier as word has emerged that the team is set to return to San Diego for the first time since 2006.

The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the U.S. will face Guatemala on July 5th at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego in the team's final tune-up match before the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

UW-Parkside junior midfielder Jasmine Espino made her international debut for Guatemala this spring, starting three matches as "La Seleccion Chapina" finished third at the Central American Games in March in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The 22-year-old Espino played the first half of a 3-2 win over Panama on March 6 and went 47 minutes in a 6-2 rout of Honduras four days later as Guatemala won both of its matches to win Group B.