Clemente Lisi runs through the other CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers from the weekend, with Costa Rica joining the United States in the final round.
By Clemente Lisi
WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 13, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- While the US continued to show its regional dominance with a 6-1 win over Cuba in Group 1 at RFK Stadium on Saturday to earn a spot to the final round of World Cup Qualifying, Costa Rica also clinched following a 4-1 win over lowly Suriname.
Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago, Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica and El Salvador all remain alive following a topsy-turvy round of games Saturday. Here is a recap of those games:
Group 1:
Guatemala 0 – Trinidad & Tobago 0
Guatemala and T&T played to a scoreless tie in Guatemala City, leaving both teams with a chance of reaching CONCACAF’s final stage with two games left to play.
Both teams have five points in the hunt for second place. Guatemala (1-2-1) lead on goal difference, but Guatemala must visit Cuba and the US, while Trinidad & Tobago (1-2-1) play those same teams at home.
The US play at Trinidad & Tobago Wednesday, while Guatemala visit Cuba, who have been eliminated.
Group 2:
Jamaica 1 – Mexico 0
Ricardo Fuller’s goal lifted Jamaica past Mexico 1-0 in Kingston for only the second time in 19 meetings to keep alive their qualifying hopes. Fuller’s goal came in the 14th minute when he touched a ball to his left foot and lifted a shot from the top of the arc that sailed over goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.
The Reggae Boyz, playing their first qualifier at home in four games due to storm damage, improved to four points. This was their first win since coach Rene Simoes was fired last month. Simoes was booted after Jamaica lost 2-0 on September 10th, leaving thenm to leaving them bottom of Group B.
Former England international John Barnes was hired to replace him with Theodore Whitmore named interim manager until Barnes takes over next month.
The result denied Mexico (3-0-1) a chance to reach the final round of qualifying. Although Mexico leads the group with nine points, Jamaica (1-1-2) climbed to third on four points.
Honduras 3 – Canada 1
Carlos Costly and Hendry Thomas scored second-half goals to propel Honduras (3-0-1) to a 3-1 victory over Canada (0-1-3) in San Pedro Sula. The result also ended Canada’s hopes of reaching the World Cup finals, leaving it with only one point from four games and at the bottom of Group 2.
Walter Martinez gave Honduras the lead after just nine minutes, capitalizing from a strong spell of possession that pressed Canada from the opening whistle.
Amado Guevara played a through ball to Wilson Palacios, who chipped a pass to the onrushing Martinez. He then converted a right-footed volley, leaving Canada goalkeeper Hirschfeld helpless.
The win moved Honduras to the top of the group, tied with Mexico with nine points but leading on goal difference.
Group 3:
Costa Rica 4 – Suriname 1
Costa Rica (4-0-0) advanced to the final round of qualifying with first-half goals from Walter Centeno and Celso Borges en route to a 4-1 road win over Suriname (0-1-3) in Paramaribo. The victory was the Ticos’ fourth straight in the second round of qualifying, giving it 12 points with two games remaining.
Centeno, in his 13th year with the Costa Rican national team, scored his first goal of the qualifying campaign in the 10th minute. Borges added the eventual winner in the 41st. Armando Alonso scored his third goal in qualifying in the 47th to make it 3-0, but Clifton Sandvliet responded a minute later for Suriname. Alonso Solis completed the scoring in the 78th with his second goal in qualifying to cap off the victory.
The loss left Suriname in last place with one point with two games remaining.
El Salvador 0 – Haiti 0
El Salvador (2-1-1) moved to the brink of clinching a spot to the final round, holding Haiti (0-2-2) to a scoreless tie in Port-au-Prince. The result left El Salvador five points behind group leader Costa Rica and five ahead of both Haiti and Suriname with two games remaining.
El Salvador can claim a place in the final round with at least a draw Wednesday at home when it faces Suriname in San Salvador.
Haiti was virtually eliminated with the result, needing to win its remaining games at Costa Rica and home versus Suriname.
Clemente Lisi is the author of “A History of the World Cup: 1930-2006.” Contact him at: CAL4477@yahoo.com
