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USA, Jamaica advance in World Cup qualifying; Guatemala ousted

The United States went from the verge of World Cup elimination to champions of CONCACAF's semifinal Group A with a 3-1 home victory against Guatemala.

The loss, combined with Jamaica's 4-1 win against Antigua & Barbuda, eliminated Guatemala and sent Jamaica on to the final round of qualifying.

Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama join the United States and Jamaica in the final round of qualifying. Three of the six teams will advance to the World Cup, while the fourth-place team will face the Oceania Region champion in a home-and-home playoff for another berth in Brazil 2014.

Here are the final Group A standings:

United States, 13 points, +5 goal difference (11 scored, 6 allowed)
Jamaica, 10 points, +3 goal difference (9 scored, 6 allowed)
Guatemala, 10 points, +1 goal difference (9 scored, 8 allowed)
Antigua & Barbuda, 1 point, -9 goal difference (4 scored, 13 allowed)