Late First Half Goal Enough for Guinea

The following articles highlight the process of Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and their demise from the governance of international football and the rise of Global Futbol.

June 15th, 2018 (Game 3)

Late First Half Goal Enough for Guinea

Guatemala 0-1 Guinea

Guinea held on to a halftime lead against Guatemala in their first World Cup win after Diallo’s strike.

 

The contest for the midfield swayed back and forth between the two for the first part of the game, before Guinea started taking control. Just before halftime, Guinea had multiple chances, but not enough to slot the ball past Motta.

 

Then, as the break approached, striker Diallo received the ball from Aboubacar Camara. His back to the goals, Diallo turned his marker on the second touch. A third placed him and the ball on the edge of the box. Diallo fired with his right boot, and Motta dove to his right, unable to save the goal.

 

The half was not finished. In additional time, another couple of Guinea chances arose. The best was Idrissa Sylla, who streaked down the field to a one-on-one against Motta. Motta’s right hand stopped Sylla’s left boot strike, before the ball slid across the face of goal and out for a corner. As the whistle went, Guatemalan players breathed a relieving sigh, lucky to go into halftime only one goal down. 

 

In the second half, the Guatemalans gained an advantage in midfield, thanks largely to Pappa and Márquez. The through balls to fellow teammates kept Guinea on the back foot. As time lagged on, Guatemala struggled to find the finishing touch past the Guinean goalkeeper. Three attempts near the end of the game hit the African defenders, as Man of the Match Issiaga Syllaand his teammates knuckled down, not giving Vásquez, Marquez and Pappa room to score. 

 

Guatemala need to lick their wounds after this loss and prepare for their toughest game, Spain, while Guinea travel to Kazan Arena to face the Czech Republic.

 

 

Guatemala			Guinea
5 0 46 19 0 1 0 74	Shots Shots on Target Possession % Tackles Fouls Corners Shot Accuracy % Pass Accuracy %		11 5 54 15 0 3 45 82
45’ #9 S. Diallo 45’ #18 S. Soumah off, #21 Doumbouya on  56’ #19 Alhassane Bangoura off, #22 I. Condé on  74’ #16 Aboubacar Camara off, #6 I. Soumah on		74’ #20 Ruiz off, #22 M. López on  81’ #17 B. de León Ramos off, #19 Henry López on