Colombia among friendly winners
Latin, South American teams spar on international stage
The victory raised the morale of Colombia, led by Jorge Luis Pinto, after their poor performance in the Copa America, with South American qualifying for South Africa 2010 set to begin next October.
For the Mexican side, led by Hugo Sanchez, the loss represents a poor beginning to the preparations aimed toward CONCACAF qualifying for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
The opening 45 minutes saw few chances generated by either team, save for a header from Jonny Magallón in the 42nd minute that rattled the post of the Colombian goal.
Colombia was content to allow Mexico the majority of possession while keeping the ball in front of their defense, then breaking on the counter whenever they could.
Omar Bravo for Mexico and Hugo Rodallega for Colombia were given the responsibility of creating danger in front of goal, but neither could in the face of defenses who spared no effort in keeping the ball far away from their goals.
After the break, Colombia exhibited more energy and was on top of the Mexicans from the start, and their possession culminated in the neat combination started by Castrillón that resulted in the only goal.
Panama 2, Guatemala 1
Panama defeated Guatemala 2-1 on Wednesday night in the Panamanian capital, thanks to goals from Alberto Blanco and another from Victor Herrera.
Guatemala, coached by their Colombian boss, Hernán "Bolillo" Gómez, opened the scoring in the 21st minute on a shot from Transito Montepeque, but they couldn't overcome the Panamanian attack.
FC Dallas striker Carlos Ruiz, who came into the game with the chance of overtaking Juan Carlos Plata for his country's all-time goalscoring record with his 36th, could not find the breakthrough.
Panama pulled level in the 30th minute when Herrera took the first corner kick won by his team and it found the feet of Blanco, whose rasping right-footed shot hit the back of the net.
The second Panama goal came in the 53rd minute from the penalty spot through Herrera after a foul by Gustavo Cabrera on Gabriel Torres near the Guatemalan goal.
The chapines took the lead when Ruiz battled for the ball with Panamanian defender Felipe Baloy. The ball came free and Montepeque fired home a powerful shot.
A few minutes early from a goal kick, Ruiz fired from long distance and nearly caught the Panamanian goalkeeper by surprise, but the ball sailed just over the bar.
El Salvador 2, Honduras 0 Without its main international figures, Honduras fell 2-0 to El Salvador in a friendly on Wednesday evening in San Salvador as both countries begin to set sights on preparations for 2010 World Cup qualifying.
Defender Luis Anaya opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a left-footed angled shot from inside the area. Victor Merino doubled the count with a rasping drive from a free kick in the 40th minute in the game at the Estadio Cuscutlan, played in a heavy rain left as a remnant of Hurricane Dean.
Honduras, guided by Colombian Reinaldo Rueda, was without its principal stars such as the injured Amado Guevara and a group of foreign-based players led by striker David Suazo of Inter Milan.
The catrachos were left without many weapons and their attempts at goal, from Dany Turcios and Luis Rodas, among others, didn't bring much danger to the home goal.
El Salvador, led by Mexican coach Carlos de los Cobos, demonstrated an ordered game and took advantage of counterattacks sparked in the center by Eliseo Quintanilla and on the left flank by Ronald Cerritos, both of whom spent time in MLS.
Costa Rica 1, Peru 1 Costa Rica and Peru battled to a tame 1-1 draw in their friendly Wednesday night at the Estadio Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The ticos took the early lead after just seven minutes with a goal from Oscar Rojas, and remained in control for much of the opening 45 minutes. But after the break, the visitors began to have more of the play and pulled level in the 56th minute through midfielder Pedro Garcia, who latched on to a deflected shot and powerfully shot home past goalkeeper Wardy Alfaro.
In the final minute, the home side piled on the pressure with speedy attacks but couldn't find a way past goalkeeper Leao Butron.
Both coaches used the match to give trials to many players, including youngsters on both sides -- 18-year-old Damián Ismodes for Peru, and 20-year-old Pablo Herrera for Costa Rica.
