CARSON CITY - Marvin Avila scored two second-half goals to lift Guatemala to a stunning victory over Mexico in a friendly played in California on Wednesday night.
In the last match of their US tour, Mexico were originally scheduled to play against China's national team but instead faced fierce regional rivals.
The physical encounter saw two players from each side receive red cards while Guatemala coach Hernan Gomez was also sent to the stands.
The Guatemalans needed just six minutes to open the scoring behind the tenacious play of their lone forward Carlos Ruiz, who plays for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.
Ruiz sent a blistering low cross into the penalty box that went clear through and was sent back in by Yony Martinez to a waiting Rigoberto Gomez, who side-footed the ball past a diving goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute.
Mexico responded with increased pressure resulting in two mistakes by the Guatemalan defence, thus leading to two goals in two minutes.
The first came after a poor clearance that dropped in front of Carlos Vela, who slammed a shot past helpless Guatemala keeper Paulo Motta to make it 1-1 in the 30th minute.
Less than a minute later, Cesar Villaluz beat Motta from a similar move to give Mexico the lead.
Ruiz and Villaluz were then shown red cards following an altercation in the 53rd minute.
Then in the 61st minute, Mexico's Gonzalo Pineda was given his marching orders after elbowing a Guatemala player in front of their bench.
Gomez charged off the bench and was order to the stands.
Playing with a man advantage, Guatemala needed just four minutes to capitalise when Avila ricocheted a shot off the far post and into the net to make it 2-2.
Avila struck again nine minutes later, drilling a shot from close range just under the crossbar.
With only six minutes remaining, Guatemala's Leonel Noriega was red carded for an obvious hand ball, leaving both teams with just nine players, but Mexico could not get the equaliser.
