It was announced yesterday that Colombia has relieved head coach Leonel Alvarez of his duties after just four months at the helm.
Alvarez took the job in August after Hernan Dario Gomez resigned after hitting an unidentified woman in a Bogota bar. He ends up being boss of Colombia for only five matches, including three World Cup qualifiers. His final record was 3-1-1.
Colombia currently sits sixth out of nine teams in CONMEBOL qualifying, where the top four advance to the World Cup while the fifth placed squad goes into a playoff with the fifth placed Asian team.
The team won Alvarez's first two matches in charge, friendlies against Honduras and Jamaica. From there they opened World Cup qualifying with a 2-1 win in Bolivia, before drawing Venezuela 1-1 and falling to Argentina 2-1 at home last month.
The Colombian federation president, Luis Bedoya, stated that the decision to dismiss Alvarez was unanimous and that a search for his successor was to begin immediately.
Colombia is currently ranked 36th in the world by FIFA.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
CAF First Round Results
Overshadowed by the end of CONCACAF qualifying, the drama in Asian qualifying and the more popular CONMEBOL qualifying, African qualifying begun on the FIFA matchdays in November as the first round took place.
The first round was a series of home-and-home games played between matched up teams that comprised the lowest 24 ranked nations out of the 52 teams participating in qualifying. Mauritania was the only nation in Africa not to enter World Cup qualifying.
One another note before recapping the action. Liberia received automatic passage to the second round when Mauritius withdrew from qualifying on Oct. 31st.
Here are the results on aggregate with FIFA rank in parenthesis.
Kenya (133) 7 Seychelles (183) 0
Kenya faced little trouble with the island nation Seychelles, winning comfortably 3-0 on the road to begin the tie.
Pascal Ochieng broke the deadlock with five minutes left in the first half, heading home from a free kick. Striker Dennis Oliech added the next two late, first finishing clinically after being played through. Oliech's second came when he picked the ball up at the midfield line and touched by the high Seychelles' line and was able to round the keeper and slot the ball home.
The second leg saw more of the same. This time it was a 4-0 victory for Kenya with the goals coming from four different sources.
Once again the opener came from a set-piece. This time it was a corner kick, Brian Mandela rose highest to meet the ball and power it home in the 19th minute. Oliech scored his third goal of the tie next, before Titus Mulama put Kenya three up before the halftime break. Victory Wanyama added the fourth one in the 75th minute.
Togo (101) 2 Guinea-Bissau (160) 1
Togo, a participant in the 2006 World Cup, has fallen on hard times lately both on and off the field. They received a boost by scraping by Guinea-Bissau in round one and also with the news that Emmanuel Adebayor has recently stated he would be willing to return to the national team.
The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw in Guinea-Bissau.
Togo took the lead in the 32nd minute courtesy of Serge Gakpe, but were pegged back in less than five minutes. Basile De Carvalho gave hopes to a Guinea-Bissau upset with an equalizer. The home side was then able to frustrate the favorites and head to Togo all level.
The second leg finished 1-0 to Togo with the lone goal being scored in only the third minute on an unfortunate mix up.
Togo had pushed forward and rounded the keeper and the ball was played back to the middle of the box. A shot was fired but was cleared off the line by a Guinea-Bissau defender. However, the clearance deflected off the keeper who was retreating back into the net and into the goal. The own-goal was enough to see Togo into the second round.
Namibia (121) 8 Djibouti (200) 0
Namibia had no problems with one of the worst African sides in Djibouti. They smartly put the tie to bed in the first leg with a 4-0 triumph.
Rudolf Bester, who plays for the Orlando Pirates, had a brace in the first leg. Lazarus Kaimbi and Sydney Urikhob added the other two goals for the victors.
The second leg was also a 4-0 scoreline. Kaimbi had a brace in this one while Urikhob added another and Heinrich Isaacks rounded out the scoring.
Mozambique (105) 5 Comoros (186) 1
In another big mismatch, Mozambique eased by the minnows Comoros. The tiny island nation hung tight in its home leg, only falling 1-0 on a second half penalty by Almiro Lobo.
Mozambique demonstrated its quality with a 4-1 second leg win at home. Domingues and Jerry Sitoe ended any hope of a Comoros miracle with two first half goals. Francisco Whiskey added a third in the second half before Comoros finally got on the scoresheet thanks to Mohamed Youssouf. Clésio Bauque completed the scoring for Mozambique.
Equatorial Guinea (151) 3 Madagascar (157) 2
In one of the more evenly matched ties, Equatorial Guinea was able to nudge its way by the island nation of Madagascar.
They used a 2-0 home win to get them off to a fantastic start and heap all the pressure on Madagascar.
In the first leg Juvenal was the first to tally after converting a penalty in the 20th minute to put Equatorial Guinea in front. Randy solidified the hosts advantage with a goal in the 74th minute.
Madagascar fought back in the second leg to claim a 2-1 home win, but it was not enough to overtake Equatorial Guinea on aggregate. In fact, the eventual tie victors all but put the series to bed in the 24th minute when Viera Ellong scored to put them up 3-0 on aggregate with the benefit of an away goal.
Yvan Rajoarimanana equalized early in the second half for Madagascar before Falimery Ramanamahefa won the leg, but not the tie, for Madagascar in the 90th minute.
Ethiopia (137) 5 Somalia (187) 0
Underdog Somalia was able to hold Ethiopia to a scoreless 0-0 draw in the home leg, which was actually played in Djibouti due to security fears. However, it all fell apart in the second leg for Somalia.
Ethiopia ran out 5-0 winners to advance. Omud Okwury got the hosts off to a hot start with a goal in just the fifth minute. The rest of the first half was tense as a Somalian goal would have shifted the advantage to the away side.
Shimelus Bekele made sure of Ethiopia's advancement with two quick goals in the 62nd and 65th minutes. From there the rout was on, and Getaneh Kebede added a late brace in the final minutes to round out the scoring.
Lesotho (148) 3 Burundi (145) 2
In a small upset, tiny Lesotho defeat Burundi to move onward. The eventual winners claimed the first leg at home by the score of 1-0. Lehlomela Ramabele tallied a late 83rd minute goal to propel the side to victory.
Lesotho came out firing in the second leg as well. Thapelo Tale and Bokang Mothoana both scored in the first half hour to put the underdogs up 3-0 on aggregate.
Burundi clawed back with Cedric Amissi finding the target before the halftime break. Selemani Ndikumana converted a penalty late to tie the second leg, but leave Burundi short on aggregate.
Rwanda (114) 4 Eritrea (184) 2
Tiny Rwanda has quietly had a successful few years in Africa, including qualifying for the African Cup of Nations. In its first round tie, the nation was able to handle pesky Eritrea.
The two sides fought to a 1-1 draw in Eritrea in the first leg. Tesfalem Tekle gave the home side the lead in the first half before Elias Uzamukunda tied the score in the second.
Olivier Karekezi gave Rwanda a dream start in the second leg with a goal in the fourth minute. Jean-Claude Iranzi added a second in the 70th minute before Labama Bokota made sure of progression for Rwanda with a strike in the 78th. Abraham Tedros added a consolation for Eritrea late.
Congo DR (125) 8 Swaziland (179) 2
Congo DR cruised by Swaziland to advance. The first leg in Swaziland saw the away side win 3-1.
Dioko Kaluyituka broke the deadlock in the 18th minute and Trésor Mputu added a second four minutes later. Sidumo Shongwe halved the deficit early in the second half, but Gladys Bokese restored Congo DR's two goal advantage before the conclusion of the match.
In the second leg, Mputu ended and faint hopes of a Swaziland comeback with an early goal before adding another in the second half. Kaluyituka had a second half brace of his own and Yves Diba Ilunga also was on target. Shongwe scored yet again for Swaziland, but Congo DR won comfortably 5-1.
Congo (131) 6 Sao Tome and Principe (192) 1
The Congo squared off against the island nation Sao tome and Principe and crushed them in the first leg 5-0 to effectively end the tie.
Christopher Missilou put Congo on the board in the first minute of the game and not even five minutes into the match they were two up when Ladislas Douniama struck. Chris Malonga made it three in the 27th minute. Prince Oniangue and Harris Tchilimbou completed the scoring in the first leg with second half strikes.
The second leg was much more competitive and ended in a 1-1 draw. Orlando Gando actually gave the minnows the advantage only to have Francis N'Ganga equalize a few minutes later.
Tanzania (136) 2 (a) Chad (141) 2
Tanzania advanced to the second round on the away goals rule after they finished tied 2-2 on aggregate with Chad.
Tanzania scored two away goals in the first leg to come away with a 2-1 road win. Mrisho Ngassa scored the first goal of the match for Tanzania, but Mahamat Labbo tied the score five minutes later. Ten minutes from time, Nurdin Bakari was on target for the winner.
Chad came back with an upset win in Tanzania by a 1-0 scoreline with Labbo scoring yet again. Unfortunately for Chad, it was not enough to advance.
The first round was a series of home-and-home games played between matched up teams that comprised the lowest 24 ranked nations out of the 52 teams participating in qualifying. Mauritania was the only nation in Africa not to enter World Cup qualifying.
One another note before recapping the action. Liberia received automatic passage to the second round when Mauritius withdrew from qualifying on Oct. 31st.
Here are the results on aggregate with FIFA rank in parenthesis.
Kenya (133) 7 Seychelles (183) 0
Kenya faced little trouble with the island nation Seychelles, winning comfortably 3-0 on the road to begin the tie.
Pascal Ochieng broke the deadlock with five minutes left in the first half, heading home from a free kick. Striker Dennis Oliech added the next two late, first finishing clinically after being played through. Oliech's second came when he picked the ball up at the midfield line and touched by the high Seychelles' line and was able to round the keeper and slot the ball home.
The second leg saw more of the same. This time it was a 4-0 victory for Kenya with the goals coming from four different sources.
Once again the opener came from a set-piece. This time it was a corner kick, Brian Mandela rose highest to meet the ball and power it home in the 19th minute. Oliech scored his third goal of the tie next, before Titus Mulama put Kenya three up before the halftime break. Victory Wanyama added the fourth one in the 75th minute.
Togo (101) 2 Guinea-Bissau (160) 1
Togo, a participant in the 2006 World Cup, has fallen on hard times lately both on and off the field. They received a boost by scraping by Guinea-Bissau in round one and also with the news that Emmanuel Adebayor has recently stated he would be willing to return to the national team.
The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw in Guinea-Bissau.
Togo took the lead in the 32nd minute courtesy of Serge Gakpe, but were pegged back in less than five minutes. Basile De Carvalho gave hopes to a Guinea-Bissau upset with an equalizer. The home side was then able to frustrate the favorites and head to Togo all level.
The second leg finished 1-0 to Togo with the lone goal being scored in only the third minute on an unfortunate mix up.
Togo had pushed forward and rounded the keeper and the ball was played back to the middle of the box. A shot was fired but was cleared off the line by a Guinea-Bissau defender. However, the clearance deflected off the keeper who was retreating back into the net and into the goal. The own-goal was enough to see Togo into the second round.
Namibia (121) 8 Djibouti (200) 0
Namibia had no problems with one of the worst African sides in Djibouti. They smartly put the tie to bed in the first leg with a 4-0 triumph.
Rudolf Bester, who plays for the Orlando Pirates, had a brace in the first leg. Lazarus Kaimbi and Sydney Urikhob added the other two goals for the victors.
The second leg was also a 4-0 scoreline. Kaimbi had a brace in this one while Urikhob added another and Heinrich Isaacks rounded out the scoring.
Mozambique (105) 5 Comoros (186) 1
In another big mismatch, Mozambique eased by the minnows Comoros. The tiny island nation hung tight in its home leg, only falling 1-0 on a second half penalty by Almiro Lobo.
Mozambique demonstrated its quality with a 4-1 second leg win at home. Domingues and Jerry Sitoe ended any hope of a Comoros miracle with two first half goals. Francisco Whiskey added a third in the second half before Comoros finally got on the scoresheet thanks to Mohamed Youssouf. Clésio Bauque completed the scoring for Mozambique.
Equatorial Guinea (151) 3 Madagascar (157) 2
In one of the more evenly matched ties, Equatorial Guinea was able to nudge its way by the island nation of Madagascar.
They used a 2-0 home win to get them off to a fantastic start and heap all the pressure on Madagascar.
In the first leg Juvenal was the first to tally after converting a penalty in the 20th minute to put Equatorial Guinea in front. Randy solidified the hosts advantage with a goal in the 74th minute.
Madagascar fought back in the second leg to claim a 2-1 home win, but it was not enough to overtake Equatorial Guinea on aggregate. In fact, the eventual tie victors all but put the series to bed in the 24th minute when Viera Ellong scored to put them up 3-0 on aggregate with the benefit of an away goal.
Yvan Rajoarimanana equalized early in the second half for Madagascar before Falimery Ramanamahefa won the leg, but not the tie, for Madagascar in the 90th minute.
Ethiopia (137) 5 Somalia (187) 0
Underdog Somalia was able to hold Ethiopia to a scoreless 0-0 draw in the home leg, which was actually played in Djibouti due to security fears. However, it all fell apart in the second leg for Somalia.
Ethiopia ran out 5-0 winners to advance. Omud Okwury got the hosts off to a hot start with a goal in just the fifth minute. The rest of the first half was tense as a Somalian goal would have shifted the advantage to the away side.
Shimelus Bekele made sure of Ethiopia's advancement with two quick goals in the 62nd and 65th minutes. From there the rout was on, and Getaneh Kebede added a late brace in the final minutes to round out the scoring.
Lesotho (148) 3 Burundi (145) 2
In a small upset, tiny Lesotho defeat Burundi to move onward. The eventual winners claimed the first leg at home by the score of 1-0. Lehlomela Ramabele tallied a late 83rd minute goal to propel the side to victory.
Lesotho came out firing in the second leg as well. Thapelo Tale and Bokang Mothoana both scored in the first half hour to put the underdogs up 3-0 on aggregate.
Burundi clawed back with Cedric Amissi finding the target before the halftime break. Selemani Ndikumana converted a penalty late to tie the second leg, but leave Burundi short on aggregate.
Rwanda (114) 4 Eritrea (184) 2
Tiny Rwanda has quietly had a successful few years in Africa, including qualifying for the African Cup of Nations. In its first round tie, the nation was able to handle pesky Eritrea.
The two sides fought to a 1-1 draw in Eritrea in the first leg. Tesfalem Tekle gave the home side the lead in the first half before Elias Uzamukunda tied the score in the second.
Olivier Karekezi gave Rwanda a dream start in the second leg with a goal in the fourth minute. Jean-Claude Iranzi added a second in the 70th minute before Labama Bokota made sure of progression for Rwanda with a strike in the 78th. Abraham Tedros added a consolation for Eritrea late.
Congo DR (125) 8 Swaziland (179) 2
Congo DR cruised by Swaziland to advance. The first leg in Swaziland saw the away side win 3-1.
Dioko Kaluyituka broke the deadlock in the 18th minute and Trésor Mputu added a second four minutes later. Sidumo Shongwe halved the deficit early in the second half, but Gladys Bokese restored Congo DR's two goal advantage before the conclusion of the match.
In the second leg, Mputu ended and faint hopes of a Swaziland comeback with an early goal before adding another in the second half. Kaluyituka had a second half brace of his own and Yves Diba Ilunga also was on target. Shongwe scored yet again for Swaziland, but Congo DR won comfortably 5-1.
Congo (131) 6 Sao Tome and Principe (192) 1
The Congo squared off against the island nation Sao tome and Principe and crushed them in the first leg 5-0 to effectively end the tie.
Christopher Missilou put Congo on the board in the first minute of the game and not even five minutes into the match they were two up when Ladislas Douniama struck. Chris Malonga made it three in the 27th minute. Prince Oniangue and Harris Tchilimbou completed the scoring in the first leg with second half strikes.
The second leg was much more competitive and ended in a 1-1 draw. Orlando Gando actually gave the minnows the advantage only to have Francis N'Ganga equalize a few minutes later.
Tanzania (136) 2 (a) Chad (141) 2
Tanzania advanced to the second round on the away goals rule after they finished tied 2-2 on aggregate with Chad.
Tanzania scored two away goals in the first leg to come away with a 2-1 road win. Mrisho Ngassa scored the first goal of the match for Tanzania, but Mahamat Labbo tied the score five minutes later. Ten minutes from time, Nurdin Bakari was on target for the winner.
Chad came back with an upset win in Tanzania by a 1-0 scoreline with Labbo scoring yet again. Unfortunately for Chad, it was not enough to advance.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Samoa Advances in OFC Qualifying
Samoa 1 American Samoa 0
A late 89th minute goal from Silao Malo put Samoa into the second round of OFC World Cup qualifying as a 1-0 over American Samoa saw the hosts win the group with seven points from three matches.
The loss ended lowly American Samoa's dreams after earning its first ever FIFA win earlier in the competition.
The two sides came into the match tied on four points, meaning the winner would progress to the next round and 2012 OFC Nations Cup. Samoa dominated its neighbors in the first half, creating several dangerous chances from crosses, although they could not find the breakthrough.
The second half saw more of the same, with Samoa clearly on top. However, American Samoa had a golden chance on a break, but hit the post.
With time running out, Samoa charged forward and played a ball back to Malo at the top of the box who finished neatly.
Tonga 2 Cook Islands 1
Tonga ended its qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win over the Cook Islands that propelled them to a second place finish in the group.
Timote Maamaaloa gave Tonga the lead in the 26th minute before the Cook Islands equalized almost immediately when Grover Harmon put one in the back of the net.
Both sides had their chances, but Kinitoni Falatu won all three points for Tonga with a 90th minute for the already eliminated team.
A late 89th minute goal from Silao Malo put Samoa into the second round of OFC World Cup qualifying as a 1-0 over American Samoa saw the hosts win the group with seven points from three matches.
The loss ended lowly American Samoa's dreams after earning its first ever FIFA win earlier in the competition.
The two sides came into the match tied on four points, meaning the winner would progress to the next round and 2012 OFC Nations Cup. Samoa dominated its neighbors in the first half, creating several dangerous chances from crosses, although they could not find the breakthrough.
The second half saw more of the same, with Samoa clearly on top. However, American Samoa had a golden chance on a break, but hit the post.
With time running out, Samoa charged forward and played a ball back to Malo at the top of the box who finished neatly.
Tonga 2 Cook Islands 1
Tonga ended its qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win over the Cook Islands that propelled them to a second place finish in the group.
Timote Maamaaloa gave Tonga the lead in the 26th minute before the Cook Islands equalized almost immediately when Grover Harmon put one in the back of the net.
Both sides had their chances, but Kinitoni Falatu won all three points for Tonga with a 90th minute for the already eliminated team.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
OFC First Round: Second Matchday Highlights
American Samoa 1 Cook Islands 1
American Samoa continued its amazing run, opening up strong against the Cook Islands by creating numerous scoring chances. The lowest-ranked side in the world took the lead in the 24th minute courtesy of Shalom Luani and had several opportunities to extend it, but could not convert.
The second half was a different story, American Samoa was still the better side, but began to tire as the match wore on, allowing Cook Islands to claw its way back into it. They did equalize in the 62nd minute thanks to an own-goal.
American Samoa can now qualify for round two with a win on Saturday while Cook Islands have been eliminated.
Samoa 1 Tonga 1
Samoa missed an opportunity to take control of the group, allowing Tonga to peg back for a 1-1 draw.
Shaun Easthope had given the Samoans the lead by converting a penalty kick with less than five minutes left in the first half. Samoa had a golden chance to go two up, but a corner kick was cleared off the line by Tonga.
Tonga eventually found its footing in the second half and began to create chances. They finally equalized in the 81st minute, Lokoua Taufahema headed home a free kick with the keeper caught out of position and both sides shared the spoils.
Samoa will play American Samoa for the right to advance to the second round while Tonga has been eliminated and finishes up against the Cook Islands.
American Samoa continued its amazing run, opening up strong against the Cook Islands by creating numerous scoring chances. The lowest-ranked side in the world took the lead in the 24th minute courtesy of Shalom Luani and had several opportunities to extend it, but could not convert.
The second half was a different story, American Samoa was still the better side, but began to tire as the match wore on, allowing Cook Islands to claw its way back into it. They did equalize in the 62nd minute thanks to an own-goal.
American Samoa can now qualify for round two with a win on Saturday while Cook Islands have been eliminated.
Samoa 1 Tonga 1
Samoa missed an opportunity to take control of the group, allowing Tonga to peg back for a 1-1 draw.
Shaun Easthope had given the Samoans the lead by converting a penalty kick with less than five minutes left in the first half. Samoa had a golden chance to go two up, but a corner kick was cleared off the line by Tonga.
Tonga eventually found its footing in the second half and began to create chances. They finally equalized in the 81st minute, Lokoua Taufahema headed home a free kick with the keeper caught out of position and both sides shared the spoils.
Samoa will play American Samoa for the right to advance to the second round while Tonga has been eliminated and finishes up against the Cook Islands.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
American Samoa and Samoa Win Openers
American Samoa 2 Tonga 1
It was a historic opener to the first round of Oceania qualifying as American Samoa picked up its first win ever.
Ramin Ott was the hero, scoring in the 44th minute, to give Thomas Rongen a lead in his first match at the helm. Never before had American Samoa scored more than one goal in a FIFA match and in the 74th minute Shalom Luani sent the side into dreamland with a goal that will go down in the annals of Oceania history.
Tonga made the Samoans work for it in the end, pulling a goal back in the 87th minute cohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifurtesy of Unaloto Ki Atenoa Feao. They had one great chance to equalize, but goalkeeper Nicky Salapu made a fantastic save to preserve the famous win.
Samoa 3 Cook Islands 2
Samoa made it a big day for teams ranked at the foot of the FIFA World Rankings, scoring a late goal in added time for a 3-2 victory.
It was a back and forth match with Samoa taking the lead twice through Luki Gosche, only to be pegged back each time by Campbell Bell for Cook Islands.
Just when the match appeared headed for a share of the spoils, Albert Bell popped up to score the winner in the 92nd minute and hand the hosts all three points.
This win now sets up the juicy possibility of a winner-take-all match on Saturday between America Samoa and Samoa should they each win their games on Tuesday.
It was a historic opener to the first round of Oceania qualifying as American Samoa picked up its first win ever.
Ramin Ott was the hero, scoring in the 44th minute, to give Thomas Rongen a lead in his first match at the helm. Never before had American Samoa scored more than one goal in a FIFA match and in the 74th minute Shalom Luani sent the side into dreamland with a goal that will go down in the annals of Oceania history.
Tonga made the Samoans work for it in the end, pulling a goal back in the 87th minute cohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifurtesy of Unaloto Ki Atenoa Feao. They had one great chance to equalize, but goalkeeper Nicky Salapu made a fantastic save to preserve the famous win.
Samoa 3 Cook Islands 2
Samoa made it a big day for teams ranked at the foot of the FIFA World Rankings, scoring a late goal in added time for a 3-2 victory.
It was a back and forth match with Samoa taking the lead twice through Luki Gosche, only to be pegged back each time by Campbell Bell for Cook Islands.
Just when the match appeared headed for a share of the spoils, Albert Bell popped up to score the winner in the 92nd minute and hand the hosts all three points.
This win now sets up the juicy possibility of a winner-take-all match on Saturday between America Samoa and Samoa should they each win their games on Tuesday.
Monday, November 21, 2011
OFC Qualifying Begins
The minnows of Oceania get their qualifying campaigns underway today, with the four lowest-ranked nations competing in a round-robin tournament.
American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga will all play one another over the next week for the right to win the group and advance to the second round. They will join the rest of the Oceania nations in the second round. The teams that have a bye to round two are New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
Here is a brief look at the sides competing in round one.
American Samoa
FIFA rank: 203
Traditionally regarded as the worst team in FIFA, coming into qualifying American Samoa have never won, drawn or even led a FIFA sanctioned match. The side's only ever win was a non-sanctioned match way back in 1983 against Wallis and Fatuana.
The side is best known for its humiliating 31-0 defeat to Australia in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, the largest margin in history. Thomas Rongen, the former head coach of the United States' U-20 team, is the new manager of the side.
American Samoa is hosting the tournament and will hope that the friendly confines will help them obtain its first ever points in qualifying.
Cook Islands
FIFA rank: 196
The Cook Islands are probably one of the two favorites to advance from this tournament, although that really is not saying much. They are the highest ranked team in the tournament, with 10 points good enough for 196th.
The team's first ever match was a 30-0 defeat to Tahiti in 1971. They have gotten considerably better since and did win one match in 2010 qualifying.
In the opening match of its tournament, the Cook Islands will face Samoa in a match that could be the difference in deciding the group.
Tonga
FIFA rank: 201
Tonga only has three ranking points or else they would join the five nations who are ranked 203rd with zero points, which means zero wins in the last four years.
This minnow only had one win in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, a 4-0 victory against American Samoa. They also lost to Samoa 2-1 in that edition.
Similar to American Samoa, they suffered an awful defeat to Australia in 2002 qualifying, 22-0. While this is a wide open tournament filled with four minnows do not expect Tonga to be the one that advances.
Samoa
FIFA rank: 203
Despite being ranked joint-last in FIFA, Samoa may be the team most likely to win the tournament.
Way back in 2007, the side defeated fellow group members American Samoa and Tonga in qualifying. While that is nothing to write home about, it may be enough to get the job done in this group as six points could win it.
Recently, Samoa played one of the better islands in Oceania, Fiji, twice and lost only 3-0 and 5-1, a much better result than what the other sides in this tournament would likely produce.
Predicted Group Winner: Samoa
American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga will all play one another over the next week for the right to win the group and advance to the second round. They will join the rest of the Oceania nations in the second round. The teams that have a bye to round two are New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
Here is a brief look at the sides competing in round one.
American Samoa
FIFA rank: 203
Traditionally regarded as the worst team in FIFA, coming into qualifying American Samoa have never won, drawn or even led a FIFA sanctioned match. The side's only ever win was a non-sanctioned match way back in 1983 against Wallis and Fatuana.
The side is best known for its humiliating 31-0 defeat to Australia in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, the largest margin in history. Thomas Rongen, the former head coach of the United States' U-20 team, is the new manager of the side.
American Samoa is hosting the tournament and will hope that the friendly confines will help them obtain its first ever points in qualifying.
Cook Islands
FIFA rank: 196
The Cook Islands are probably one of the two favorites to advance from this tournament, although that really is not saying much. They are the highest ranked team in the tournament, with 10 points good enough for 196th.
The team's first ever match was a 30-0 defeat to Tahiti in 1971. They have gotten considerably better since and did win one match in 2010 qualifying.
In the opening match of its tournament, the Cook Islands will face Samoa in a match that could be the difference in deciding the group.
Tonga
FIFA rank: 201
Tonga only has three ranking points or else they would join the five nations who are ranked 203rd with zero points, which means zero wins in the last four years.
This minnow only had one win in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, a 4-0 victory against American Samoa. They also lost to Samoa 2-1 in that edition.
Similar to American Samoa, they suffered an awful defeat to Australia in 2002 qualifying, 22-0. While this is a wide open tournament filled with four minnows do not expect Tonga to be the one that advances.
Samoa
FIFA rank: 203
Despite being ranked joint-last in FIFA, Samoa may be the team most likely to win the tournament.
Way back in 2007, the side defeated fellow group members American Samoa and Tonga in qualifying. While that is nothing to write home about, it may be enough to get the job done in this group as six points could win it.
Recently, Samoa played one of the better islands in Oceania, Fiji, twice and lost only 3-0 and 5-1, a much better result than what the other sides in this tournament would likely produce.
Predicted Group Winner: Samoa
Friday, November 18, 2011
CONMEBOL Matchday Four Highlights
Colombia 1 Argentina 2
Colombia let a halftime lead slip away while Argentina picked up a valuable three points that helps the side stabilize its campaign. Dorlan Pabon put Colombia ahead in the 45th minute, but Lionel Messi equalized on the hour mark. Six minutes from time Sergio Aguero got the winner that sees Argentina go joint top in South America.
Ecuador 2 Peru 0
Ecuador picked up its second win of qualifying at home with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Peru. Edison Mendez struck in the 70th minute, which put Ecuador ahead. Christian Benitez made sure of the three points when he scored his second goal of qualifying in the 89th. Ecuador now sits in fourth in qualifying while Peru rests all the way back in eighth.
Chile 2 Paraguay 0
Chile rebounded from its 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Uruguay by bouncing back with a 2-0 triumph against Paraguay. Pablo Contreras gave the hosts the advantage in the 28th minute. Matias Campos then doubled Chile's lead late to make sure of the three points. Chile now rests in fifth place while Paraguay's struggles continue and they sit in seventh.
Venezuela 1 Bolivia 0
Venezuela moved into third place with a narrow 1-0 win against Bolivia, who remains at the foot of the table. The lone goal of the match was scored in the 24th minute by Oswalso Vizcarrondo who headed in a corner kick.
Colombia let a halftime lead slip away while Argentina picked up a valuable three points that helps the side stabilize its campaign. Dorlan Pabon put Colombia ahead in the 45th minute, but Lionel Messi equalized on the hour mark. Six minutes from time Sergio Aguero got the winner that sees Argentina go joint top in South America.
Ecuador 2 Peru 0
Ecuador picked up its second win of qualifying at home with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Peru. Edison Mendez struck in the 70th minute, which put Ecuador ahead. Christian Benitez made sure of the three points when he scored his second goal of qualifying in the 89th. Ecuador now sits in fourth in qualifying while Peru rests all the way back in eighth.
Chile 2 Paraguay 0
Chile rebounded from its 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Uruguay by bouncing back with a 2-0 triumph against Paraguay. Pablo Contreras gave the hosts the advantage in the 28th minute. Matias Campos then doubled Chile's lead late to make sure of the three points. Chile now rests in fifth place while Paraguay's struggles continue and they sit in seventh.
Venezuela 1 Bolivia 0
Venezuela moved into third place with a narrow 1-0 win against Bolivia, who remains at the foot of the table. The lone goal of the match was scored in the 24th minute by Oswalso Vizcarrondo who headed in a corner kick.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
CONMEBOL Matchday Three Highlights
Argentina 1 Bolivia 1
Argentina slumped to yet another disappointing result in World Cup qualifying, drawing 1-1 with Bolivia at home. Hard work an a tidy left-footed finish by Marcelo Moreno in the second half gave the away side a shock lead. Ezequiel Lavezzi, the striker for Napoli in Serie A, spared Argentina's blushes with an equalizer five minutes later. However, a side with the talent that Argentina has should really be winning this match comfortable. It appears Argentina will be in another battle just to reach the field in 2014.
Uruguay 4 Chile 0
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez put in a sterling performance scoring all four goals for the high-powered Uruguayan attack. Suarez scored his first two in the last five minutes of the first half, putting the Chileans on the back foot. Chile's own vaunted attack was unable to create much and were left exposed at the back as Suarez added his second two in the 68th and 74th minute. Uruguay remains unbeaten in qualifying while Chile fell to its second defeat in its first three matches.
Colombia 1 Venezuela 1
Frank Feltscher equalized in the 79th minute for Venezuela to help them pick up an important away point in Colombia. Fredy Guarin had given the Colombia the early lead in the 11th minute with a rasping drive from distance. The rest of the first half was all Colombia and they were unlucky not to add a second.The home side continued to press in the second 45, and had a goal correctly disallowed due to an offside call. Unfortunately for Colombia, they allowed Feltscher to get behind the backline where he calmly finished by the keeper. Colombia missed a golden chance to win the match late, hitting the bar in the 90th minute.
Paraguay 2 Ecuador 1
After a rough October, Paraguay finally picked up its first win of qualifying 2-1 over Ecuador. Paraguay used set-pieces to its advantage, with both of its goals coming from those situations. Cristian Riveros gave the hosts the lead just two minutes into the second half, tapping home a cross from a free kick in at the far post. Ten minutes later they were at it again. Dario Veron was the first to reach a corner kick played in and his header was powerful enough to elude the keeper's dive. Ecuador pulled a goal back late through Joao Rojas, but it was not enough.
Argentina slumped to yet another disappointing result in World Cup qualifying, drawing 1-1 with Bolivia at home. Hard work an a tidy left-footed finish by Marcelo Moreno in the second half gave the away side a shock lead. Ezequiel Lavezzi, the striker for Napoli in Serie A, spared Argentina's blushes with an equalizer five minutes later. However, a side with the talent that Argentina has should really be winning this match comfortable. It appears Argentina will be in another battle just to reach the field in 2014.
Uruguay 4 Chile 0
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez put in a sterling performance scoring all four goals for the high-powered Uruguayan attack. Suarez scored his first two in the last five minutes of the first half, putting the Chileans on the back foot. Chile's own vaunted attack was unable to create much and were left exposed at the back as Suarez added his second two in the 68th and 74th minute. Uruguay remains unbeaten in qualifying while Chile fell to its second defeat in its first three matches.
Colombia 1 Venezuela 1
Frank Feltscher equalized in the 79th minute for Venezuela to help them pick up an important away point in Colombia. Fredy Guarin had given the Colombia the early lead in the 11th minute with a rasping drive from distance. The rest of the first half was all Colombia and they were unlucky not to add a second.The home side continued to press in the second 45, and had a goal correctly disallowed due to an offside call. Unfortunately for Colombia, they allowed Feltscher to get behind the backline where he calmly finished by the keeper. Colombia missed a golden chance to win the match late, hitting the bar in the 90th minute.
Paraguay 2 Ecuador 1
After a rough October, Paraguay finally picked up its first win of qualifying 2-1 over Ecuador. Paraguay used set-pieces to its advantage, with both of its goals coming from those situations. Cristian Riveros gave the hosts the lead just two minutes into the second half, tapping home a cross from a free kick in at the far post. Ten minutes later they were at it again. Dario Veron was the first to reach a corner kick played in and his header was powerful enough to elude the keeper's dive. Ecuador pulled a goal back late through Joao Rojas, but it was not enough.
AFC Matchday Five Highlights
Group A
Singapore 0 China 4
Singapore's dismal performance in the group stage continued with a resounding 4-0 defeat at home. Despite being eliminated from qualifying, China regained some pride with its big victory. Yu Hai and Li Weifeng scored the first two goals for the Chinese while Zheng Zheng added a late brace.
Jordan 1 Iraq 3
Iraq secured a spot in the fourth round with a comeback 3-1 win in Jordan. The already qualified Jordan took the lead early when Hassan Abdel-Fattah scored yet another goal for the home side. However, Iraq came out a different side in the second half and ran three goals by Jordan. Nashat Akram tallied a brace sandwiched in between the go-ahead goal from Qusay Munir.
Group B
Lebanon 2 South Korea 1
Lebanon continued its miraculous run in round three by pulling an absolutely stunning upset over favorite South Korea. Ali Al Saadi opened the scoring for the hosts in just the fifth minute to give the side confidence. South Korea did equalize in the 20th minute when Koo Ja-Cheol successfully converted a penalty kick. Lebanon won a penalty of its own 10 minutes later, and Abbas Ali Atwi knocked it home. The win now moves Lebanon into second place in the group and leaves it wide open for the final fixture day in February.
Kuwait 2 U.A.E. 1
Kuwait saved its chances of making the fourth round of qualifying by coming back from a 1-0 deficit at home to the U.A.E. The U.A.E. appeared headed for its first points of the round when Ismail Matar knocked one home in the 18th minute. After the halftime break, Kuwait began to play its way back into the match. Fahad Al Enzi tied the score in the 49th minute and Kuwait got the game-winner courtesy of an own-goal in the 68th minute.
Group C
North Korea 1 Japan 0
The already eliminated North Korea picked up its second win of the third round against the mighty Japan, who were resting several players. Pak Nam-Choi had the only strike of the match in the 50th minute. North Korea had to hold on for the final 13 minutes with 10 men as well.
Uzbekistan 3 Tajikistan 0
Uzbekistan moved back into first place in group C courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 victory over lowly Tajikistan. Sanzhar Tursunov, Odil Ahmedov and Alexander Geynrikh had the goals for Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, this campaign can not end quick enough for Tajikistan who still have not scored a goal in this round.
Group D
Thailand 0 Australia 1
Australia clinched its spot in the fourth round of qualifying thanks to a narrow 1-0 win in Thailand. After a scoreless first half Brett Holman struck in the 76th minute for the only goal of the match. Thailand now needs to win its final match in Oman in order to have a shot at joining Australia in the next round.
Saudi Arabia 0 Oman 0
In a critical match for each side, neither Saudi Arabia nor Oman could put a shot in the back of the net and each were left to rue a missed opportunity to take control of the second spot in group D. Saudi Arabia still remains there, but only by one point over Oman and two ahead of Thailand.
Group E
Indonesia 1 Iran 4
Iran is now assured of progression to the fourth round after easily dispatching Indonesia on the road. After 25 minutes Iran was already three goals up and able to cruise to victory. Milad Meydavoudi had the opener in the seventh minute followed by strikes from Mojtaba Jabbari and Gholamreza Rezaei just minutes apart. Indonesia pulled a goal back right on the brink of halftime courtesy of Bambang Pamungkas to make it 3-1. Iran ended any slim hope of an Indonesia fightback in the 72nd when Javad Nekounam converted a penalty.
Qatar 0 Bahrain 0
Bahrain may have missed its chance to finish ahead of Qatar by failing to pick up all three points in this goalless draw. Qatar now remains three points ahead of Bahrain and has a hefty advantage when it comes to goal difference with just one game to go. Both meetings between these two sides in round three resulted in 0-0 draws.
Singapore 0 China 4
Singapore's dismal performance in the group stage continued with a resounding 4-0 defeat at home. Despite being eliminated from qualifying, China regained some pride with its big victory. Yu Hai and Li Weifeng scored the first two goals for the Chinese while Zheng Zheng added a late brace.
Jordan 1 Iraq 3
Iraq secured a spot in the fourth round with a comeback 3-1 win in Jordan. The already qualified Jordan took the lead early when Hassan Abdel-Fattah scored yet another goal for the home side. However, Iraq came out a different side in the second half and ran three goals by Jordan. Nashat Akram tallied a brace sandwiched in between the go-ahead goal from Qusay Munir.
Group B
Lebanon 2 South Korea 1
Lebanon continued its miraculous run in round three by pulling an absolutely stunning upset over favorite South Korea. Ali Al Saadi opened the scoring for the hosts in just the fifth minute to give the side confidence. South Korea did equalize in the 20th minute when Koo Ja-Cheol successfully converted a penalty kick. Lebanon won a penalty of its own 10 minutes later, and Abbas Ali Atwi knocked it home. The win now moves Lebanon into second place in the group and leaves it wide open for the final fixture day in February.
Kuwait 2 U.A.E. 1
Kuwait saved its chances of making the fourth round of qualifying by coming back from a 1-0 deficit at home to the U.A.E. The U.A.E. appeared headed for its first points of the round when Ismail Matar knocked one home in the 18th minute. After the halftime break, Kuwait began to play its way back into the match. Fahad Al Enzi tied the score in the 49th minute and Kuwait got the game-winner courtesy of an own-goal in the 68th minute.
Group C
North Korea 1 Japan 0
The already eliminated North Korea picked up its second win of the third round against the mighty Japan, who were resting several players. Pak Nam-Choi had the only strike of the match in the 50th minute. North Korea had to hold on for the final 13 minutes with 10 men as well.
Uzbekistan 3 Tajikistan 0
Uzbekistan moved back into first place in group C courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 victory over lowly Tajikistan. Sanzhar Tursunov, Odil Ahmedov and Alexander Geynrikh had the goals for Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, this campaign can not end quick enough for Tajikistan who still have not scored a goal in this round.
Group D
Thailand 0 Australia 1
Australia clinched its spot in the fourth round of qualifying thanks to a narrow 1-0 win in Thailand. After a scoreless first half Brett Holman struck in the 76th minute for the only goal of the match. Thailand now needs to win its final match in Oman in order to have a shot at joining Australia in the next round.
Saudi Arabia 0 Oman 0
In a critical match for each side, neither Saudi Arabia nor Oman could put a shot in the back of the net and each were left to rue a missed opportunity to take control of the second spot in group D. Saudi Arabia still remains there, but only by one point over Oman and two ahead of Thailand.
Group E
Indonesia 1 Iran 4
Iran is now assured of progression to the fourth round after easily dispatching Indonesia on the road. After 25 minutes Iran was already three goals up and able to cruise to victory. Milad Meydavoudi had the opener in the seventh minute followed by strikes from Mojtaba Jabbari and Gholamreza Rezaei just minutes apart. Indonesia pulled a goal back right on the brink of halftime courtesy of Bambang Pamungkas to make it 3-1. Iran ended any slim hope of an Indonesia fightback in the 72nd when Javad Nekounam converted a penalty.
Qatar 0 Bahrain 0
Bahrain may have missed its chance to finish ahead of Qatar by failing to pick up all three points in this goalless draw. Qatar now remains three points ahead of Bahrain and has a hefty advantage when it comes to goal difference with just one game to go. Both meetings between these two sides in round three resulted in 0-0 draws.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
AFC Matchday Four Highlights
Group A
Jordan 2 Singapore 0
A capacity crowd of 19,000 watched Jordan clinch a spot in the fourth round of Asian qualifying with a 2-0 win over the already eliminated Singapore. Ahmed Hayel scored the first goal on a great solo run and Amer Deeb added his fourth goal of qualifying in the second half.
Iraq 1 China 0
Playing in Qatar, Iraq all but locked up the other advancement spot in this group thanks to a 92nd minute goal from Younis Mahmoud. For China, it appears to be the end of another disappointing qualifying campaign for the world's most populous country and possibly the end of the brief reign of Jose Antonio Camacho as manager.
Group B
U.A.E. 0 South Korea 2
U.A.E.'s miserable group stage continued with another loss to South Korea by a 2-0 scoreline. They did put in a better performance this time around however, holding the Koreans scoreless for the first 88 minutes. Then, South Korea finally made the breakthrough thanks to Lee Keun-Ho before star player Park Chu-Young added another in injury time.
Kuwait 0 Lebanon 1
Lebanon's stunning journey continued with yet another upset win. This 1-0 road victory puts them in contention for advancing out of the group, a notion that would have been laughed at prior to the start of group play. For Kuwait, they started off so brightly in this round, but now face a fierce scrap to get out of the group.
Group C
Tajikistan 0 Japan 4
Japan clinched progression to the next round in style with another rout of Tajikistan. Shinji Okazaki tallied two more goals in the 4-0 victory, bringing his total to five in qualifying. Yasuyuki Konno and Ryoichi Maeda were the other goalscorers for the 2011 Asian Cup champions. Meanwhile, Tajikistan still has not scored a goal in the group stage while conceding 17.
Uzbekistan 1 North Korea 0
Uzbekistan remained unbeaten in its qualifying campaign while securing a spot in the fourth round with a 1-0 victory against North Korea. Timur Kapadze had the lone goal of the match early in the second half. The North Koreans become the first side that reached the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be eliminated in qualifying for the 2014 edition.
Group D
Oman 1 Australia 0
A sparse crowd of under 5,000 witnessed possibly the biggest shock of the third round as Oman clawed its way back into the thick of things in group D with a stunning 1-0 triumph over mighty Australia. Amad Al Hosni was the hero for the home side as his goal early in the match proved to be the difference. The loss is the first for Australia in qualifying while it is also Oman's first win of round three.
Saudi Arabia 3 Thailand 0
It took Saudi Arabia almost an hour, but they finally should glimpses of the quality side they have been for so long. Naif Hazazi, Ahmed Al-Fraidi and Mohammed Noor helped power the Saudi's offense with goals. The win will help alleviate some fears in the Saudi camp, but they still have work to do if they are to advance. Thailand's dreams took a major hit, however they are still in decent position if they can get the results they need.
Group E
Qatar 4 Indonesia 0
Qatar cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win over the eliminated Indonesia at home. Mohammed Razak opened the scoring with a half hour gone in the match before Khalfan Ibrahim added the first of his two goals just a few minutes later. Sebastian Soria was the final goalscorer for the 2022 World Cup hosts who are in line to be the second team to advance out of group E. Meanwhile, Indonesia is still pointless in the third round and has not solved its defensive frailties yet.
Bahrain 1 Iran 1
Iran snatched a draw in Bahrain at the very last second to remain unbeaten in qualifying at stay at the top of group E. Bahrain seemed poised for the upset after taking the lead right before the halftime break through Mahmood Al Ajmi. However, Iran equalized in added time thanks to Mojtaba Jabbari. The draw deals a serious blow to Bahrain's chances of advancing to the fourth round.
Jordan 2 Singapore 0
A capacity crowd of 19,000 watched Jordan clinch a spot in the fourth round of Asian qualifying with a 2-0 win over the already eliminated Singapore. Ahmed Hayel scored the first goal on a great solo run and Amer Deeb added his fourth goal of qualifying in the second half.
Iraq 1 China 0
Playing in Qatar, Iraq all but locked up the other advancement spot in this group thanks to a 92nd minute goal from Younis Mahmoud. For China, it appears to be the end of another disappointing qualifying campaign for the world's most populous country and possibly the end of the brief reign of Jose Antonio Camacho as manager.
Group B
U.A.E. 0 South Korea 2
U.A.E.'s miserable group stage continued with another loss to South Korea by a 2-0 scoreline. They did put in a better performance this time around however, holding the Koreans scoreless for the first 88 minutes. Then, South Korea finally made the breakthrough thanks to Lee Keun-Ho before star player Park Chu-Young added another in injury time.
Kuwait 0 Lebanon 1
Lebanon's stunning journey continued with yet another upset win. This 1-0 road victory puts them in contention for advancing out of the group, a notion that would have been laughed at prior to the start of group play. For Kuwait, they started off so brightly in this round, but now face a fierce scrap to get out of the group.
Group C
Tajikistan 0 Japan 4
Japan clinched progression to the next round in style with another rout of Tajikistan. Shinji Okazaki tallied two more goals in the 4-0 victory, bringing his total to five in qualifying. Yasuyuki Konno and Ryoichi Maeda were the other goalscorers for the 2011 Asian Cup champions. Meanwhile, Tajikistan still has not scored a goal in the group stage while conceding 17.
Uzbekistan 1 North Korea 0
Uzbekistan remained unbeaten in its qualifying campaign while securing a spot in the fourth round with a 1-0 victory against North Korea. Timur Kapadze had the lone goal of the match early in the second half. The North Koreans become the first side that reached the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be eliminated in qualifying for the 2014 edition.
Group D
Oman 1 Australia 0
A sparse crowd of under 5,000 witnessed possibly the biggest shock of the third round as Oman clawed its way back into the thick of things in group D with a stunning 1-0 triumph over mighty Australia. Amad Al Hosni was the hero for the home side as his goal early in the match proved to be the difference. The loss is the first for Australia in qualifying while it is also Oman's first win of round three.
Saudi Arabia 3 Thailand 0
It took Saudi Arabia almost an hour, but they finally should glimpses of the quality side they have been for so long. Naif Hazazi, Ahmed Al-Fraidi and Mohammed Noor helped power the Saudi's offense with goals. The win will help alleviate some fears in the Saudi camp, but they still have work to do if they are to advance. Thailand's dreams took a major hit, however they are still in decent position if they can get the results they need.
Group E
Qatar 4 Indonesia 0
Qatar cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win over the eliminated Indonesia at home. Mohammed Razak opened the scoring with a half hour gone in the match before Khalfan Ibrahim added the first of his two goals just a few minutes later. Sebastian Soria was the final goalscorer for the 2022 World Cup hosts who are in line to be the second team to advance out of group E. Meanwhile, Indonesia is still pointless in the third round and has not solved its defensive frailties yet.
Bahrain 1 Iran 1
Iran snatched a draw in Bahrain at the very last second to remain unbeaten in qualifying at stay at the top of group E. Bahrain seemed poised for the upset after taking the lead right before the halftime break through Mahmood Al Ajmi. However, Iran equalized in added time thanks to Mojtaba Jabbari. The draw deals a serious blow to Bahrain's chances of advancing to the fourth round.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Jordan and Iraq Take Control
Jordan secured a place in the fourth round of Asian qualifying and continued its winning ways with an easy 2-0 home win over Singapore.
Ahmed Hayal scored in the 15th minute to give the hosts a lead. Singapore struggled to create much in the way of attack with Jordan dominating most of the game. Amer Deeb added a second after the break with the win giving Jordan 12 points from four games.
Iraq all but assured progression, getting a late goal to defeat China 1-0. This match was played in Qatar due to FIFA prohibiting home games being played in Iraq following crowd and infrastructure problems last month.
Younis Mahmoud had the winner for Iraq just into added time. The Middle Eastern side now just needs one point from its final two games to progress to round four.
Ahmed Hayal scored in the 15th minute to give the hosts a lead. Singapore struggled to create much in the way of attack with Jordan dominating most of the game. Amer Deeb added a second after the break with the win giving Jordan 12 points from four games.
Iraq all but assured progression, getting a late goal to defeat China 1-0. This match was played in Qatar due to FIFA prohibiting home games being played in Iraq following crowd and infrastructure problems last month.
Younis Mahmoud had the winner for Iraq just into added time. The Middle Eastern side now just needs one point from its final two games to progress to round four.
Oman Upsets Australia, Saudi Arabia Beats Thailand
Oman played its way back into the group D race with a hugely surprising 1-0 win over favorite Australia. Amad Al Hosni lifted the spirit of the country and galvanized his team with a goal in the 18th minute.
The home side was able to cling to the narrow lead and see out the match, giving them their first win of this round. Although Oman is still in last in the group, they sit just one point out of second. Australia suffered its first defeat of qualifying, but still are in excellent shape at the top of the group.
Saudi Arabia also picked up its first win of the round, pulling ahead late and running three goals by Thailand. The victory moves the Saudis up to second place. Naif Hazazi, Ahmed Al-Fraidi and Mohammed Noor were the goalscorers.
Thailand's great campaign takes a major hit with a loss, but they are still in the thick of the battle. They return home Tuesday to face Australia in a match that could decide the group.
The end of this match was marred by a brawl that was sparked by a Thailand tackle on a Saudi who was running the clock down in the corner.
The home side was able to cling to the narrow lead and see out the match, giving them their first win of this round. Although Oman is still in last in the group, they sit just one point out of second. Australia suffered its first defeat of qualifying, but still are in excellent shape at the top of the group.
Saudi Arabia also picked up its first win of the round, pulling ahead late and running three goals by Thailand. The victory moves the Saudis up to second place. Naif Hazazi, Ahmed Al-Fraidi and Mohammed Noor were the goalscorers.
Thailand's great campaign takes a major hit with a loss, but they are still in the thick of the battle. They return home Tuesday to face Australia in a match that could decide the group.
The end of this match was marred by a brawl that was sparked by a Thailand tackle on a Saudi who was running the clock down in the corner.
South Korea and Lebanon Win in Group B
South Korea kept up its good form in qualifying with a 2-0 victory in the U.A.E. The win eliminates the U.A.E. from advancing out of the group. Meanwhile, South Korea remains at the top of the group and can clinch progression with a win on Tuesday.
The Koreans left it very late in this match, needing an 88th minute strike from Lee Keun-Ho to finally take the lead. In added time, Park Chu-Young scored yet another goal in qualifying that made sure of the three points.
In the other group B contest, Lebanon pulled yet another huge shock, winning in Kuwait 1-0 and moving into second place. Since losing 6-0 in its opening fixture of the group, Lebanon is unbeaten.
Mahmoud El Ali gave the visitors all they needed just before the hour mark and Lebanon was able to hang on for a 1-0 win. Kuwait now must win on Tuesday to stay in contention for the next round.
The Koreans left it very late in this match, needing an 88th minute strike from Lee Keun-Ho to finally take the lead. In added time, Park Chu-Young scored yet another goal in qualifying that made sure of the three points.
In the other group B contest, Lebanon pulled yet another huge shock, winning in Kuwait 1-0 and moving into second place. Since losing 6-0 in its opening fixture of the group, Lebanon is unbeaten.
Mahmoud El Ali gave the visitors all they needed just before the hour mark and Lebanon was able to hang on for a 1-0 win. Kuwait now must win on Tuesday to stay in contention for the next round.
Japan and Uzbekitsan Clinch
Group C in the third round of Asian qualifying was credited with being the group of death. Today it became the first of the five groups to be decided as Japan and Uzbekistan sealed progression to the fourth round with wins.
Japan traveled to bottom dwellers Tajikistan and return home with a comfortable 4-0 victory. Yasuyuki Kono opened the scoring for the visitors late in the first half before Shinji Okazaki added two in the second half sandwiched in between a strike from Ryoichi Maeda.
Uzbekistan secured its place with a 1-0 triumph in North Korea. The lone goal was scored by Timur Kapadze early in the second half. North Korea becomes the first side who made the 2010 World Cup to be eliminated in qualifying.
Japan traveled to bottom dwellers Tajikistan and return home with a comfortable 4-0 victory. Yasuyuki Kono opened the scoring for the visitors late in the first half before Shinji Okazaki added two in the second half sandwiched in between a strike from Ryoichi Maeda.
Uzbekistan secured its place with a 1-0 triumph in North Korea. The lone goal was scored by Timur Kapadze early in the second half. North Korea becomes the first side who made the 2010 World Cup to be eliminated in qualifying.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Do or Die in CONCACAF
With the second round of CONCACAF qualifying wrapping up in the next week, let's take a look at each group and which teams are still fighting for advancement.
The six groups can be broken down into three different categories depending on the standings, so let's take a look at them.
Already Wrapped Up
Group C
1. Panama 9 pts, +10 GD
2. Nicaragua 3 pts, -3 GD
3. Dominica 0 pts, -7 GD
Panama clinched the top spot by winning 5-1 over Nicaragua last month in a group that they were by far the overwhelming favorite. They join Honduras and Cuba in group C in the third round. The Central American side wraps up round two on Tuesday against Dominica.
Nicaragua finishes its qualifying campaign Friday at home to Dominica while the traveling side has two more games left to attempt to grab its first points of qualifying, but may be searching more for its first goal instead.
Group E
1. Guatemala 12 pts, +10 GD
2. Grenada 4 pts, -1 GD
3. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4 pts, -6 GD
4. Belize 3 pts, -3 GD
Guatemala avoided any scares in its four games, scoring 12 goals and only conceding two. They clinched progression to group A in round three where they will join the USA and Jamaica as of now. The Guatemalans now have the luxury of using its final two games against Grenada in this round to try out new players.
Grenada's difficult and tumultuous qualifying journey concludes with two matches versus the group winners. Vincy Heat and Belize finish their campaigns with two games against each other, and if one nation can take six points they can finish second.
All But Locked Up
Group A
1. El Salvador 12 pts, +10 GD
2. Suriname 7 pts, 0 GD
3. Dominican Republic 4 pts, 0 GD
4. Cayman Islands 0 pts, -9 GD
El Salvador won its first four matches but still has a little work to do in order to ensure the top spot. The Salvadorans only need one point from their two matches with Suriname to clinch first.
Suriname is still ruing missed opportunities in its first four games. They blew a lead in the Dominican Republic that would have them on nine points at this moment. Now they must defeat El Salvador twice in order to shock the world and move onward.
The Dominican Republic will look wrap an improved qualifying performance by defeating the Cayman Islands twice. The Dominicans already have a victory to their credit, a 3-1 win in Suriname. The Cayman's are still searching for their first point and are unlikely to get it.
Group D
1. Canada 10 pts, +13 GD
2. Saint Kitts and Nevis 6 pts, +2 GD
3. Puerto Rico 3 pts, -3 GD
4. Saint Lucia 1 pt, -12 GD
Canada could have clinched first place last matchday, but they stumbled to a 0-0 draw at home to Puerto Rico. However, they are still in excellent shape and only need one draw from their two games with Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Saint Kitts and Nevis will be hugely disappointed that they could not grab some more wins in their first four games. While they are unbeaten, SKN has three draws including one against lowly Saint Lucia. Now they need two wins to upset the Canadians.
Puerto Rico also has three draws, but have not tallied a win thus far. They expect six points in the next two matches with Saint Lucia, which may see them end up second in the group.
A Tight Battle
Group B
1. Guyana 10 pts, +5 GD
2. Trinidad and Tobago 9 pts, +6 GD
3. Bermuda 4 pts, -1 GD
4. Barbados 0 pts, -10 GD
Guyana is clinging to the summit of group B with a narrow one point lead over Trinidad and Tobago. The two sides meet in Guyana Friday, followed by another meeting in T&T Tuesday. Guyana only needs one win to clinch and can also do so by two draws. Trinidad and Tobago is still the favorite, but needs to win both matches.
Bermuda has had a highly successful campaign for such a lowly nation and can finish out with two victories against Barbados. Barbados may have had the most disappointing round two of any nation, not scoring a goal and losing all of its matches to this point.
Group F
1. Antigua and Barbuda 12 pts, +21 GD
2. Haiti 10 pts, +15 GD
3. Curaçao 1 pt, -6 GD
4. U.S. Virgin Islands 0 pts, -30 GD
As expected, this group will come down to the final two games between Antigua and Barbuda and Haiti. Antigua and Barbuda holds a slight advantage at the top of the group thanks to Haiti's draw with Curaçao. If Antigua and Barbuda is able to win on Friday at home, they will clinch winning the group. Two draws will also get the job done for Antigua and Barbuda while Haiti must win both matches.
Curaçao will conclude its campaign with high hopes of winning their first competitive matches when they face the amateurs of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The six groups can be broken down into three different categories depending on the standings, so let's take a look at them.
Already Wrapped Up
Group C
1. Panama 9 pts, +10 GD
2. Nicaragua 3 pts, -3 GD
3. Dominica 0 pts, -7 GD
Panama clinched the top spot by winning 5-1 over Nicaragua last month in a group that they were by far the overwhelming favorite. They join Honduras and Cuba in group C in the third round. The Central American side wraps up round two on Tuesday against Dominica.
Nicaragua finishes its qualifying campaign Friday at home to Dominica while the traveling side has two more games left to attempt to grab its first points of qualifying, but may be searching more for its first goal instead.
Group E
1. Guatemala 12 pts, +10 GD
2. Grenada 4 pts, -1 GD
3. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4 pts, -6 GD
4. Belize 3 pts, -3 GD
Guatemala avoided any scares in its four games, scoring 12 goals and only conceding two. They clinched progression to group A in round three where they will join the USA and Jamaica as of now. The Guatemalans now have the luxury of using its final two games against Grenada in this round to try out new players.
Grenada's difficult and tumultuous qualifying journey concludes with two matches versus the group winners. Vincy Heat and Belize finish their campaigns with two games against each other, and if one nation can take six points they can finish second.
All But Locked Up
Group A
1. El Salvador 12 pts, +10 GD
2. Suriname 7 pts, 0 GD
3. Dominican Republic 4 pts, 0 GD
4. Cayman Islands 0 pts, -9 GD
El Salvador won its first four matches but still has a little work to do in order to ensure the top spot. The Salvadorans only need one point from their two matches with Suriname to clinch first.
Suriname is still ruing missed opportunities in its first four games. They blew a lead in the Dominican Republic that would have them on nine points at this moment. Now they must defeat El Salvador twice in order to shock the world and move onward.
The Dominican Republic will look wrap an improved qualifying performance by defeating the Cayman Islands twice. The Dominicans already have a victory to their credit, a 3-1 win in Suriname. The Cayman's are still searching for their first point and are unlikely to get it.
Group D
1. Canada 10 pts, +13 GD
2. Saint Kitts and Nevis 6 pts, +2 GD
3. Puerto Rico 3 pts, -3 GD
4. Saint Lucia 1 pt, -12 GD
Canada could have clinched first place last matchday, but they stumbled to a 0-0 draw at home to Puerto Rico. However, they are still in excellent shape and only need one draw from their two games with Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Saint Kitts and Nevis will be hugely disappointed that they could not grab some more wins in their first four games. While they are unbeaten, SKN has three draws including one against lowly Saint Lucia. Now they need two wins to upset the Canadians.
Puerto Rico also has three draws, but have not tallied a win thus far. They expect six points in the next two matches with Saint Lucia, which may see them end up second in the group.
A Tight Battle
Group B
1. Guyana 10 pts, +5 GD
2. Trinidad and Tobago 9 pts, +6 GD
3. Bermuda 4 pts, -1 GD
4. Barbados 0 pts, -10 GD
Guyana is clinging to the summit of group B with a narrow one point lead over Trinidad and Tobago. The two sides meet in Guyana Friday, followed by another meeting in T&T Tuesday. Guyana only needs one win to clinch and can also do so by two draws. Trinidad and Tobago is still the favorite, but needs to win both matches.
Bermuda has had a highly successful campaign for such a lowly nation and can finish out with two victories against Barbados. Barbados may have had the most disappointing round two of any nation, not scoring a goal and losing all of its matches to this point.
Group F
1. Antigua and Barbuda 12 pts, +21 GD
2. Haiti 10 pts, +15 GD
3. Curaçao 1 pt, -6 GD
4. U.S. Virgin Islands 0 pts, -30 GD
As expected, this group will come down to the final two games between Antigua and Barbuda and Haiti. Antigua and Barbuda holds a slight advantage at the top of the group thanks to Haiti's draw with Curaçao. If Antigua and Barbuda is able to win on Friday at home, they will clinch winning the group. Two draws will also get the job done for Antigua and Barbuda while Haiti must win both matches.
Curaçao will conclude its campaign with high hopes of winning their first competitive matches when they face the amateurs of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Mauritius Withdraws From World Cup Qualifying
Mauritius, a tiny island nation located off the coast of Southeast Africa currently ranked 189th in the FIFA world rankings, has withdrawn from qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The side was scheduled to face Liberia in two weeks time in the first round of African qualifying. Liberia now moves on to the second round and into group J, joining Senegal, Uganda and Angola.
No reasons were given for Mauritius withdrawal.
The side was scheduled to face Liberia in two weeks time in the first round of African qualifying. Liberia now moves on to the second round and into group J, joining Senegal, Uganda and Angola.
No reasons were given for Mauritius withdrawal.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
CONMEBOL Matchday Two Results and Highlights
Bolivia 1 Colombia 2
A 93rd minute goal from Radamel Falcao gave Colombia a rare win in Bolivia. Moments earlier it appeared Walter Lopez had salvaged a draw for the Bolivians with a 85th minute strike. Dorlan Poban opened the scoring for Colombia at the start of the second half.
Chile 4 Peru 2
Chile's vaunted attack came to life at home as they picked up their first win of qualifying. Waldo Ponce and Eduardo Vargas put the hosts up two goals in the first 20 minutes of the match. Gary Medel tallied one of the goals of the round to make it 3-0 just after the halftime break and it appeared the Chileans would run riot. However, Peru clawed its way back into the match with goals from Claudio Pizarro and Jefferson Farfan to cut the lead to one. Chile then made sure of the points through Humerto Suazo courtesy of a penalty kick.
Paraguay 1 Uruguay 1
Paraguay snatched a draw at the death to obtain its first point in qualifying. Diego Forlan had given the away side the lead in the second half and it appeared Uruguay would win its second consecutive match. Unfortunately for the traveling fans, Paraguay was able to fight back and equalize in the 92nd minute when Richard Ortiz scrambled in a shot from a corner.
Venezuela 1 Argentina 0
In what may be the biggest victory in Venezuelan history, the hosts knocked off the heavily favored Argentina to pick up its first win of qualifying. Fernando Amorebieta was the hero for Venezuela, as his diving header from a corner in the 62nd minute was all the team needed.
Here is how the standings look after two matchdays in South America. The top four at the end of qualifying go to the World Cup while the fifth place team plays an Asian side in a playoff. Ecuador and Colombia have played one match and all others two.
1. Uruguay 4 pts +2GD
2. Argentina 3 pts +2
3. Ecuador 3 pts +2
4. Colombia 3 pts +1
5. Peru 3 pts 0
6. Chile 3 pts -1
7. Venezuela 3 pts -1
8. Paraguay 1 pt -2
9. Bolivia 0 pts -3
A 93rd minute goal from Radamel Falcao gave Colombia a rare win in Bolivia. Moments earlier it appeared Walter Lopez had salvaged a draw for the Bolivians with a 85th minute strike. Dorlan Poban opened the scoring for Colombia at the start of the second half.
Chile 4 Peru 2
Chile's vaunted attack came to life at home as they picked up their first win of qualifying. Waldo Ponce and Eduardo Vargas put the hosts up two goals in the first 20 minutes of the match. Gary Medel tallied one of the goals of the round to make it 3-0 just after the halftime break and it appeared the Chileans would run riot. However, Peru clawed its way back into the match with goals from Claudio Pizarro and Jefferson Farfan to cut the lead to one. Chile then made sure of the points through Humerto Suazo courtesy of a penalty kick.
Paraguay 1 Uruguay 1
Paraguay snatched a draw at the death to obtain its first point in qualifying. Diego Forlan had given the away side the lead in the second half and it appeared Uruguay would win its second consecutive match. Unfortunately for the traveling fans, Paraguay was able to fight back and equalize in the 92nd minute when Richard Ortiz scrambled in a shot from a corner.
Venezuela 1 Argentina 0
In what may be the biggest victory in Venezuelan history, the hosts knocked off the heavily favored Argentina to pick up its first win of qualifying. Fernando Amorebieta was the hero for Venezuela, as his diving header from a corner in the 62nd minute was all the team needed.
Here is how the standings look after two matchdays in South America. The top four at the end of qualifying go to the World Cup while the fifth place team plays an Asian side in a playoff. Ecuador and Colombia have played one match and all others two.
1. Uruguay 4 pts +2GD
2. Argentina 3 pts +2
3. Ecuador 3 pts +2
4. Colombia 3 pts +1
5. Peru 3 pts 0
6. Chile 3 pts -1
7. Venezuela 3 pts -1
8. Paraguay 1 pt -2
9. Bolivia 0 pts -3
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Haiti Drops Points to Curacao
Haiti's chances of winning group F were dealt a major dent when they tied Curaçao 2-2. The two dropped points could prove the difference in finishing behind Antigua and Barbuda for the top spot.
Curaçao raced out two a shocking two-goal lead in the first 15 minutes leaving Haiti in the dust. Rocky Siberie and Sendley Bito were on the scoresheet for the new FIFA nation.
Haiti eventually took control of the game and dominated possession and chances. They pulled the first goal back in the 25th minute. Jean-Eudes Maurice successfully converted a penalty kick. However, despite numerous opportunities, Haiti went into the halftime break still down a goal.
Curaçao's dreams of a stunning upset were ended in the 62nd minute on a header by Jean-Jacques Pierre. Haiti then had countless attempts to salvage all three points, but could not get the job done despite Curaçao being reduced to 10 men late. These included a goal correctly ruled out for offsides and several penalty claims for handball.
Haiti now has two critical showdowns with Antigua and Barbuda coming up while Curaçao hopes to take six points off of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Curaçao raced out two a shocking two-goal lead in the first 15 minutes leaving Haiti in the dust. Rocky Siberie and Sendley Bito were on the scoresheet for the new FIFA nation.
Haiti eventually took control of the game and dominated possession and chances. They pulled the first goal back in the 25th minute. Jean-Eudes Maurice successfully converted a penalty kick. However, despite numerous opportunities, Haiti went into the halftime break still down a goal.
Curaçao's dreams of a stunning upset were ended in the 62nd minute on a header by Jean-Jacques Pierre. Haiti then had countless attempts to salvage all three points, but could not get the job done despite Curaçao being reduced to 10 men late. These included a goal correctly ruled out for offsides and several penalty claims for handball.
Haiti now has two critical showdowns with Antigua and Barbuda coming up while Curaçao hopes to take six points off of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Colombia Steals Win in La Paz
Not many teams travel to the high altitudes of La Paz, Bolivia and come away with a victory. Colombia just did that and in the process staked its claim as a serious contender for a World Cup place.
Falcao scored the winner in the 92nd minute to snatch the three points away from Bolivia who had just equalized in the 84th on a left-footed strike from outside the box by Walter Flores.
Falcao's goal was the result of a brilliant and fast-paced counterattack that raced up the field and left him alone with the keeper, who he calmly slotted past. Dorlan Pabon opened the scoring just after halftime for Colombia.
Colombia had several chances to put the game to bed once the took the lead but could not extend its advantage. Once Flores leveled the score, Bolivia had two golden chances to win the match, but both were saved.
The match was Colombia's first in qualifying so far and leaves them on three points having played a game less than its opponents. Bolivia meanwhile is already dropping off the pace with losses in both of its games.
Life does not get easier for Bolivia next month when they travel to Argentina. Colombia hosts Venezuela next matchday.
Falcao scored the winner in the 92nd minute to snatch the three points away from Bolivia who had just equalized in the 84th on a left-footed strike from outside the box by Walter Flores.
Falcao's goal was the result of a brilliant and fast-paced counterattack that raced up the field and left him alone with the keeper, who he calmly slotted past. Dorlan Pabon opened the scoring just after halftime for Colombia.
Colombia had several chances to put the game to bed once the took the lead but could not extend its advantage. Once Flores leveled the score, Bolivia had two golden chances to win the match, but both were saved.
The match was Colombia's first in qualifying so far and leaves them on three points having played a game less than its opponents. Bolivia meanwhile is already dropping off the pace with losses in both of its games.
Life does not get easier for Bolivia next month when they travel to Argentina. Colombia hosts Venezuela next matchday.
Asian World Cup Qualifying Highlights
Here are the highlights and match reports from today's Asian qualifying games.
Group A
Jordan 3 Singapore 0
Iraq 1 China 0
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Group B
South Korea 2 U.A.E. 1
Kuwait 2 Lebanon 2
Highlights here when they become available
Group C
Japan 8 Tajikistan 0
Uzbekistan 1 North Korea 0
Highlights here when they become available
Group D
Australia 3 Oman 0
Thailand 0 Saudi Arabia 0
Group E
Qatar 3 Indonesia 2
Iran 6 Bahrain 0
Highlights when they become available
Group A
Jordan 3 Singapore 0
Iraq 1 China 0
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Group B
South Korea 2 U.A.E. 1
Kuwait 2 Lebanon 2
Highlights here when they become available
Group C
Japan 8 Tajikistan 0
Uzbekistan 1 North Korea 0
Highlights here when they become available
Group D
Australia 3 Oman 0
Thailand 0 Saudi Arabia 0
Group E
Qatar 3 Indonesia 2
Iran 6 Bahrain 0
Highlights when they become available
Iran Blows Out Bahrain
Iran exposed 10-man Bahrain and ended up with a resounding 6-0 victory that allows them to take control of group E. For Bahrain, it slides them back to third in the group behind Qatar.
Bahrain only had 11 men on the pitch for about two minutes when Rashid Al Hooti lost his cool and was shown a red card. It was always going to be hard for Bahrain to get a result, but the loss of a man so early made it next to impossible.
Iran scored three in each half, all from different goalscorers. They were especially dangerous from set pieces, scoring from a couple of corners. It could have been worse for Bahrain too, as Iran had countless chances.
Jalal Hosseini knocked in the opener on an easy tap in the 22nd minute. Mojtaba Jabbari added the second about 10 minutes later with a right-footed shot across goal. HAdi Aghily scored the third just before halftime with a towering header on a corner.
Andranik Teymourian, who was the best player on the field for most of the game, was rewarded for his efforts with a goal at the start of the second half. Karim Ansarifard and Gholamreza Rezaei completed the scoring with goals in the second half.
Iran now sits atop group E with seven points from three games while Bahrain sits one point behind Qatar with four points from three matches.
Bahrain only had 11 men on the pitch for about two minutes when Rashid Al Hooti lost his cool and was shown a red card. It was always going to be hard for Bahrain to get a result, but the loss of a man so early made it next to impossible.
Iran scored three in each half, all from different goalscorers. They were especially dangerous from set pieces, scoring from a couple of corners. It could have been worse for Bahrain too, as Iran had countless chances.
Jalal Hosseini knocked in the opener on an easy tap in the 22nd minute. Mojtaba Jabbari added the second about 10 minutes later with a right-footed shot across goal. HAdi Aghily scored the third just before halftime with a towering header on a corner.
Andranik Teymourian, who was the best player on the field for most of the game, was rewarded for his efforts with a goal at the start of the second half. Karim Ansarifard and Gholamreza Rezaei completed the scoring with goals in the second half.
Iran now sits atop group E with seven points from three games while Bahrain sits one point behind Qatar with four points from three matches.
Kuwait, Lebanon Draw
Kuwait remained unbeaten in qualifying, coming back from a goal down twice to draw upstart Lebanon 2-2. The result leaves Kuwait still in second place in group B by one point over Lebanon.
The hosts Lebanon took a surprising lead when they won a penalty in the 15th minute. Hassan Maatouk stepped up and converted it to edge Lebanon ahead. Kuwait held most of the possession and create chances which resulted in them finally equalizing on a header by Musaed Neda at the far post.
Kuwait continued to be the better side, however in the 86th minute Lebanon was awarded another penalty. Maatouk was the man to take it and calmly sent the keeper the wrong way.
However, Lebanon could not hold on as Kuwait stormed back and drew level just two minutes later. A low cross was sent in and Mahmoud Younes could only turn the ball into his own net. Kuwait had two great chances to win the game in added time, but missed them both.
These two sides play next month in Kuwait where Lebanon needs a win to climb in front while a Kuwait victory allows them to breathe easier.
The hosts Lebanon took a surprising lead when they won a penalty in the 15th minute. Hassan Maatouk stepped up and converted it to edge Lebanon ahead. Kuwait held most of the possession and create chances which resulted in them finally equalizing on a header by Musaed Neda at the far post.
Kuwait continued to be the better side, however in the 86th minute Lebanon was awarded another penalty. Maatouk was the man to take it and calmly sent the keeper the wrong way.
However, Lebanon could not hold on as Kuwait stormed back and drew level just two minutes later. A low cross was sent in and Mahmoud Younes could only turn the ball into his own net. Kuwait had two great chances to win the game in added time, but missed them both.
These two sides play next month in Kuwait where Lebanon needs a win to climb in front while a Kuwait victory allows them to breathe easier.
Iraq Upsets China
Iraq shocked hosts China in a crucial clash between group A opponents. The win now puts Iraq into second place in the group with six points while China holds third place with three points.
Younis Mahmoud scored the lone goal of the game and his second of qualifying just before halftime to give Iraq all they needed.
A stout defensive performance helped propel the Iraqis to victory as they frustrated China throughout the match and did not allow them to create much.
China was able to pressure Iraq as time wound down with two dangerous corners in added time. They brought the keeper up and he was able to get his head on the ball but it was cleared off the line by Iraq. The second corner led to a goalmouth scramble before Iraq finally hacked it away and the final whistle blew.
These teams play each other again next month in Qatar because of the ban on Iraq hosting home games. Another Iraq win there could end China's chances of advancing.
Younis Mahmoud scored the lone goal of the game and his second of qualifying just before halftime to give Iraq all they needed.
A stout defensive performance helped propel the Iraqis to victory as they frustrated China throughout the match and did not allow them to create much.
China was able to pressure Iraq as time wound down with two dangerous corners in added time. They brought the keeper up and he was able to get his head on the ball but it was cleared off the line by Iraq. The second corner led to a goalmouth scramble before Iraq finally hacked it away and the final whistle blew.
These teams play each other again next month in Qatar because of the ban on Iraq hosting home games. Another Iraq win there could end China's chances of advancing.
Qatar Boosts Hopes With Win in Indonesia
Qatar's chances of advancing out of group E rose greatly thanks to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Indonesia. The win keeps the hosts of the 2022 World Cup unbeaten with five points from three games.
It was not easy for Qatar, who took the lead twice in the first half only to be pegged back both times. First Abdulaziz Al Sulaiti gave the visitors the lead in the 14th minute to quiet the massive Indonesian crowd.
Cristian Gonzáles, a Uruguayan who gained an Indonesian passport in late 2010, equalized just over 10 minutes later to put the hosts back on terms. Khalfan Ibrahim restored Qatar's lead in the 31st minute, only for Gonzáles to level the score in the 35th again.
The scoring settled down once halftime came, but both sides were actively looking for the third goal. Mohammed Razak became the hero just under the hour mark, slotting home from midfield. Qatar was able to cling to the advantage and see out the game, giving them a critical three points.
It was not easy for Qatar, who took the lead twice in the first half only to be pegged back both times. First Abdulaziz Al Sulaiti gave the visitors the lead in the 14th minute to quiet the massive Indonesian crowd.
Cristian Gonzáles, a Uruguayan who gained an Indonesian passport in late 2010, equalized just over 10 minutes later to put the hosts back on terms. Khalfan Ibrahim restored Qatar's lead in the 31st minute, only for Gonzáles to level the score in the 35th again.
The scoring settled down once halftime came, but both sides were actively looking for the third goal. Mohammed Razak became the hero just under the hour mark, slotting home from midfield. Qatar was able to cling to the advantage and see out the game, giving them a critical three points.
Jordan Wins Big In Singapore
Jordan firmly established themselves as the best side in group A by winning its third consecutive game in the round, 3-0 away to Singapore.
Singapore on the other hand, fell in its third straight match and appear to be headed toward elimination next match.
Jordan got on top early through Abdallah Deeb who scored his third goal in qualifying and second of this round in the 11th minute. Defender Anas Bani Yaseen doubled the away side's lead in the second half with his third international goal. Yaseen also struck against Singapore in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
Ahmed Hayel ended any hopes of a comeback for Singapore with his third goal of qualifying in the 64th minute. Jordan now has a chance to qualify for the fourth round next matchday if they defeat Singapore at home and get help elsewhere.
Jordan appears comfortably in the next round regardless and it is tough to find a team that has been more impressive than them so far in Asian qualifying.
Singapore on the other hand, fell in its third straight match and appear to be headed toward elimination next match.
Jordan got on top early through Abdallah Deeb who scored his third goal in qualifying and second of this round in the 11th minute. Defender Anas Bani Yaseen doubled the away side's lead in the second half with his third international goal. Yaseen also struck against Singapore in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
Ahmed Hayel ended any hopes of a comeback for Singapore with his third goal of qualifying in the 64th minute. Jordan now has a chance to qualify for the fourth round next matchday if they defeat Singapore at home and get help elsewhere.
Jordan appears comfortably in the next round regardless and it is tough to find a team that has been more impressive than them so far in Asian qualifying.
South Korea Edges U.A.E.
South Korea remained at the top of group B thanks to a 2-1 home win against the U.A.E. Park Chu-Young scored his fifth goal in three games to pace the Koreans.
The U.A.E, playing its first qualifying game under new coach Abdullah Masfar, had an improved performance compared to its opening two matches, but still came up short in the end. They held the South Koreans scoreless into the halftime break, before they began to break down defensively.
The Arsenal forward Chu-Young ended the stalemate five minutes into the second half and eased domestic fears that South Korea would drop two points to a weaker side. As the Koreans pushed on for the second, they were gifted it by a U.A.E. own goal.
Ismail Matar pulled a late goal back for the U.A.E. in added time, but it was too little too late for the away side who has now lost all three of its games in the third round.
The U.A.E, playing its first qualifying game under new coach Abdullah Masfar, had an improved performance compared to its opening two matches, but still came up short in the end. They held the South Koreans scoreless into the halftime break, before they began to break down defensively.
The Arsenal forward Chu-Young ended the stalemate five minutes into the second half and eased domestic fears that South Korea would drop two points to a weaker side. As the Koreans pushed on for the second, they were gifted it by a U.A.E. own goal.
Ismail Matar pulled a late goal back for the U.A.E. in added time, but it was too little too late for the away side who has now lost all three of its games in the third round.
Thailand and Saudi Arabia Finish Scoreless
Thailand and Saudi Arabia were both left to rue missed opportunities in their goalless draw in group D. The result keeps Thailand in second place in the group with Saudi Arabia two points behind.
Overall it was a sloppy game played between the two two teams that looked lethargic and tired at times. Thailand had a few chances early, but could not make any of them count.
As the match progressed into the second half the Saudis began to take control of the match and dominate possession. However, they could not develop any threatening goalscoring opportunities. They did put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled out for an obvious foul on the keeper.
The two teams will face off next month in Saudi Arabia and if there is a winner that side will likely advance to the next round with Australia.
Overall it was a sloppy game played between the two two teams that looked lethargic and tired at times. Thailand had a few chances early, but could not make any of them count.
As the match progressed into the second half the Saudis began to take control of the match and dominate possession. However, they could not develop any threatening goalscoring opportunities. They did put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled out for an obvious foul on the keeper.
The two teams will face off next month in Saudi Arabia and if there is a winner that side will likely advance to the next round with Australia.
Japan Crushes Tajikistan
Japan showed its quality as the best team in Asia, absolutely destroying a weak Tajikistan side 8-0. The win sees Japan take sole possession of first place in group C thanks to a positive nine goal difference.
The final result could have been even worse for Tajikistan as Japan hit the post several times throughout the game. They scored early and often, wrapping up the match just before halftime when Shinji Kagawa made it 4-0 in the 41st minute.
Kagawa was one of three Japanese players with a brace. Mike Havenaar scored the opener in the 11th minute and added another just two minutes into the second half. Shinji Okazaki also had two strikes, giving him three for the round.
Yuichi Komano scored his first career international goal and Kengo Nakamura also tallied to round out the scoring for the Japanese.
For Tajikistan a loss likely eliminates them next month while Japan could qualify with a win and some help in the other group C match.
The final result could have been even worse for Tajikistan as Japan hit the post several times throughout the game. They scored early and often, wrapping up the match just before halftime when Shinji Kagawa made it 4-0 in the 41st minute.
Kagawa was one of three Japanese players with a brace. Mike Havenaar scored the opener in the 11th minute and added another just two minutes into the second half. Shinji Okazaki also had two strikes, giving him three for the round.
Yuichi Komano scored his first career international goal and Kengo Nakamura also tallied to round out the scoring for the Japanese.
For Tajikistan a loss likely eliminates them next month while Japan could qualify with a win and some help in the other group C match.
Australia Dispatches Oman
Australia remained perfect in qualifying with an easy 3-0 victory at home over Oman. In a match that was never in doubt, Brett Holman gave the Aussies a lead they did not relinquish in just the seventh minute.
Holman found space a few yards out and tapped in a low cross, which gave the keeper no chance and put Australia in front.
Australia dominated possession and the rest of the match, with a bunch of chances. They extended their advantage in the 65th minute through Joshua Kennedy who slammed home a rebound.
Mile Jedinak made it three a few minutes from full time off of a set-piece. The win sees Australia take nine points from its three games so far and they can wrap up progressing to the next round with a win next month in Oman.
Holman found space a few yards out and tapped in a low cross, which gave the keeper no chance and put Australia in front.
Australia dominated possession and the rest of the match, with a bunch of chances. They extended their advantage in the 65th minute through Joshua Kennedy who slammed home a rebound.
Mile Jedinak made it three a few minutes from full time off of a set-piece. The win sees Australia take nine points from its three games so far and they can wrap up progressing to the next round with a win next month in Oman.
Uzbekistan Takes Down North Korea
Uzbekistan gained a priceless win on the road in North Korea by the narrow scoreline of 1-0. A 25th minute goal by Alexander Geynrikh was the difference in the match.
It is a huge result for Uzbekistan, traveling to North Korea and getting three points is incredibly rare. In the previous qualifying cycle, North Korea was unbeaten at home.
For Geynrikh, it was his second goal of qualifying, he scored once versus Kyrgyzstan in the second round, and his 25th career international goal
The victory now moves Uzbekistan four points clear of North Korea for the second spot in group C. The two nations play again in November, this time in Uzebkistan, and a triumph there would qualify Uzbekistan for the next round.
It is a huge result for Uzbekistan, traveling to North Korea and getting three points is incredibly rare. In the previous qualifying cycle, North Korea was unbeaten at home.
For Geynrikh, it was his second goal of qualifying, he scored once versus Kyrgyzstan in the second round, and his 25th career international goal
The victory now moves Uzbekistan four points clear of North Korea for the second spot in group C. The two nations play again in November, this time in Uzebkistan, and a triumph there would qualify Uzbekistan for the next round.
Monday, October 10, 2011
CONMEBOL Matchday Two Preview
With one out of 18 fixture days complete in South America, the teams are at it again tomorrow. Home team listed first as usual.
Bolivia v Colombia
Bolivia opened its qualifying campaign away to Uruguay and were beaten soundly, 4-2. However, the team returns home to its fortress in La Paz, where they are rarely beaten. No team wants to start out with two losses and look for Marcelo Martins to add to his goalscoring tally.
Colombia was the South American side with a bye during the first matchday, so they begin their campaign tomorrow on the road. Leonel Alvarez is the new coach for Colombia, who took over in late Auguest. Colombia should be one of the sides battling for the playoff spot and needs a positive start.
Prediction: Bolivia 2 Colombia 1
Chile v Peru
Chile is eager to get its first win of the competition after being torn apart by Argentina over the weekend. The always attacking Chileans hope that offense will be a good defense in the match. These two teams met at the Copa America over the summer and saw Chile come away with a 1-0 win.
Peru caused a minor upset on Saturday with a 2-0 home win over Paraguay. Jose Guerrero had both goals in the victory. The side now travels to Chile and if they get a result, it is time to start taking Peru seriously as a contender for qualification. Unfortunately, the side will find it tough to obtain a point.
Prediction: Chile 3 Peru 1
Paraguay v Uruguay
Paraguay slumped to the defeat in Peru and now needs to face one of the hottest teams in the world in neighbor Uruguay. They went down to the same opposition 3-0 in the Copa America final. While a loss here is not the end of the world, it would leave them in a hole to climb out of early.
Uruguay is riding high after its 4-2 opening triumph over Bolivia and its devastating attack is looking for more. They will be very confident of getting a win in Paraguay after dispatching them easily in the Copa America final. Uruguay can end a very successful week with three points in Paraguay and stay up at the top of the table.
Prediction: Paraguay 0 Uruguay 2
Venezuela v Argentina
Venezuela was hoping to take its first step to completing its leap from CONMEBOL afterthought to World Cup participant in its opener in Ecuador, but had a poor performance in a 2-0 defeat. They want to avoid an 0-2 start, but will find it incredibly difficult with a buzzing Argentina side coming in.
Argentina put to bed any worries of a lack of chemistry with a resounding 4-1 win over a strong Chile side. Lionel Messi continues to demonstrate why he is the best player in the world. They will be confident of a win in Venezuela, and with its powerful offense, Argentina can score almost at will.
Prediction: Venezuela 2 Argentina 4
Bolivia v Colombia
Bolivia opened its qualifying campaign away to Uruguay and were beaten soundly, 4-2. However, the team returns home to its fortress in La Paz, where they are rarely beaten. No team wants to start out with two losses and look for Marcelo Martins to add to his goalscoring tally.
Colombia was the South American side with a bye during the first matchday, so they begin their campaign tomorrow on the road. Leonel Alvarez is the new coach for Colombia, who took over in late Auguest. Colombia should be one of the sides battling for the playoff spot and needs a positive start.
Prediction: Bolivia 2 Colombia 1
Chile v Peru
Chile is eager to get its first win of the competition after being torn apart by Argentina over the weekend. The always attacking Chileans hope that offense will be a good defense in the match. These two teams met at the Copa America over the summer and saw Chile come away with a 1-0 win.
Peru caused a minor upset on Saturday with a 2-0 home win over Paraguay. Jose Guerrero had both goals in the victory. The side now travels to Chile and if they get a result, it is time to start taking Peru seriously as a contender for qualification. Unfortunately, the side will find it tough to obtain a point.
Prediction: Chile 3 Peru 1
Paraguay v Uruguay
Paraguay slumped to the defeat in Peru and now needs to face one of the hottest teams in the world in neighbor Uruguay. They went down to the same opposition 3-0 in the Copa America final. While a loss here is not the end of the world, it would leave them in a hole to climb out of early.
Uruguay is riding high after its 4-2 opening triumph over Bolivia and its devastating attack is looking for more. They will be very confident of getting a win in Paraguay after dispatching them easily in the Copa America final. Uruguay can end a very successful week with three points in Paraguay and stay up at the top of the table.
Prediction: Paraguay 0 Uruguay 2
Venezuela v Argentina
Venezuela was hoping to take its first step to completing its leap from CONMEBOL afterthought to World Cup participant in its opener in Ecuador, but had a poor performance in a 2-0 defeat. They want to avoid an 0-2 start, but will find it incredibly difficult with a buzzing Argentina side coming in.
Argentina put to bed any worries of a lack of chemistry with a resounding 4-1 win over a strong Chile side. Lionel Messi continues to demonstrate why he is the best player in the world. They will be confident of a win in Venezuela, and with its powerful offense, Argentina can score almost at will.
Prediction: Venezuela 2 Argentina 4
AFC Round Three: Matchday Three Preview
Asian qualifying resumes tomorrow as teams either look to distance themselves from their competitors or climb back into contention. As always, the home team is listed first.
Group A
Singapore v Jordan
Singapore is one of those teams still clinging to life in the competition. The side played well in its first two matches, but dropped both. They need at least a point to stay in contact with the other group members. One small disadvantage Singapore has is the low capacity of its stadium, right at 6,000.
Jordan is the opposite of Singapore at the moment. They had two clutch wins last month and a win here allows them to breathe easier. Hassan Abdel Fattah is the third leading scorer in all of qualifying so far. Expect Jordan to continue its fine 2011 in this match.
Prediction: Singapore 1 Jordan 2
China v Iraq
The Chinese struggled in its first two matches, coming from behind at home versus Singapore and then losing in Jordan. This is a game that could decide which one of these two teams advance and China has the edge due to the home crowd. Jose Antonio Camacho has had an extra month to gain knowledge of his players and which system will work best for them.
Iraq was hit with the news that it will no longer be able to play home games inside the country a couple of weeks ago. A loss here could be what prevents Iraq from getting out of the group. There is a chance Iraq plays for a draw depending on how the match plays out and that does look the most likely result.
Prediction: China 1 Iraq 1
Group B
South Korea v U.A.E.
Favorites South Korea should be slightly disappointed about its current standing. Ideally the side wanted six points from the first two matches, so it could lock up progression early and test out fringe players. They are still in great shape however, and a win tomorrow should make qualifying almost a formality.
The U.A.E. are in shambles now, with a new coach and fading hopes. Abdullah Masfar takes over and needs to raise spirits rapidly with a positive showing in South Korea. Unless a miracle happens, the U.A.E. will not be moving on, so it is more about growing confidence and implementing a new system.
Prediction: South Korea 3 U.A.E. 0
Lebanon v Kuwait
Disregarded as the worst team still left in Asian qualifying, Lebanon finds themselves just one point behind the top two places after two games. A win here would make them legitimate threats to advance. In its other home contest, Lebanon won 3-1 and would love to repeat that dream result.
Kuwait sits in great shape at the moment, with a road win in the U.A.E. and a draw with favorite South Korea so far. Another road win here would consolidate the side's position in the top two. These sides faced off in a July friendly, with Kuwait trouncing Lebanon 6-0.
Prediction: Lebanon 0 Kuwait 3
Group C
North Korea v Uzbekistan
This is the best game of the day and certainly one of the most important as well. North Korea sits one point adrift of Uzbekistan and the match could be the difference maker in which one of the sides joins Japan in the next round. The North Koreans have a fantastic record at home and will look to ride the crowd's momentum to victory here.
A result in this fixture would be enormous for Uzbekistan. They have already drawn group favorite Japan and if they do the same here, they still could have a shot to win the group. A win is not out of the question either, but it will take a massive defensive effort.
Prediction: North Korea 0 Uzbekistan 0
Japan v Tajikistan
This game could be exactly what Japan needs to reboot its goalscoring strength. A 94th minute strike rescued them in its opener versus North Korea, and then they could not capitalize on opportunities in Uzbekistan. Now they face the worst side in the group and expect to win by a comfortable margin.
A loss here all but eliminates Tajikistan from the competition. Placed into this group following the disqualification of Syria, Tajikistan is just happy to be here and play some more games. They have been stingy defensively so far, dropping both games 1-0, but will continue to struggle to create offense throughout the round.
Prediction: Japan 3 Tajikistan 0
Group D
Australia v Oman
After a nervy opening 45 minutes to its qualifying campaign, Australia has been the dominating team everybody thought it would be. Of all the teams in Asia, they should feel the most comfortable with its current position. They should also expect to win this game easily and wrap up moving onward next month with two games to spare.
Oman is still in the mix for the second spot and a loss here is not the end of the world depending on the result of the other group D match. However, Oman needs to find some way to score goals if they want to have a say in matters. They will find it difficult to do so in this match, as Australia has superior quality at every position.
Prediction: Australia 4 Oman 0
Thailand v Saudi Arabia
Thailand are soaring, sitting in second place after two games. This is a massive game for them and the side needs a win at home if the want to maintain that second spot. The home crowd will be rabid and huge plus for Thailand.
Saudi Arabia is still struggling and having a miserable year. However, thanks to the lack of quality in the group, they are still favored to finish second in the group. Coach Frank Rijkaard needs to figure out how to get the side's attack clicking and if they do not get a result here, he may start feeling the pressure.
Prediction: Thailand 1 Saudi Arabia 1
Group E
Indonesia v Qatar
Indonesia has been the worst team in the third round so far, losing both its opening games and with a negative five goal differential. Nothing less than a win will do for Indonesia if they want to somehow climb back into contention. They will have about 80,000 fans cheering them on tomorrow, which could be enough to propel them to victory in a very winnable game.
Qatar is still a mystery at this point, having drawn both of its games so far. They are in decent shape to still advance, having tied Bahrain on the road and favorite Iran at home. They will be confident at getting all three points despite the long travel and gigantic crowd.
Prediction: Indonesia 1 Qatar 3
Iran v Bahrain
This game is critical for both teams. For Iran, they sit in first place on goal difference although they are hardly assured of advancing. Its performance have not been noteworthy up to this point. Team Melli will have a huge turnout for this home game and should have enough firepower and defensive prowess to come away with the three points.
Bahrain has been something of an enigma so far. While they reside in second place at the moment, they have not been impressive at all. A 0-0 draw at home to Qatar was especially troubling for the side. A result here will alleviate some of these fears, unfortunately it looks unlikely for Bahrain.
Prediction: Iran 2 Bahrain 0
Group A
Singapore v Jordan
Singapore is one of those teams still clinging to life in the competition. The side played well in its first two matches, but dropped both. They need at least a point to stay in contact with the other group members. One small disadvantage Singapore has is the low capacity of its stadium, right at 6,000.
Jordan is the opposite of Singapore at the moment. They had two clutch wins last month and a win here allows them to breathe easier. Hassan Abdel Fattah is the third leading scorer in all of qualifying so far. Expect Jordan to continue its fine 2011 in this match.
Prediction: Singapore 1 Jordan 2
China v Iraq
The Chinese struggled in its first two matches, coming from behind at home versus Singapore and then losing in Jordan. This is a game that could decide which one of these two teams advance and China has the edge due to the home crowd. Jose Antonio Camacho has had an extra month to gain knowledge of his players and which system will work best for them.
Iraq was hit with the news that it will no longer be able to play home games inside the country a couple of weeks ago. A loss here could be what prevents Iraq from getting out of the group. There is a chance Iraq plays for a draw depending on how the match plays out and that does look the most likely result.
Prediction: China 1 Iraq 1
Group B
South Korea v U.A.E.
Favorites South Korea should be slightly disappointed about its current standing. Ideally the side wanted six points from the first two matches, so it could lock up progression early and test out fringe players. They are still in great shape however, and a win tomorrow should make qualifying almost a formality.
The U.A.E. are in shambles now, with a new coach and fading hopes. Abdullah Masfar takes over and needs to raise spirits rapidly with a positive showing in South Korea. Unless a miracle happens, the U.A.E. will not be moving on, so it is more about growing confidence and implementing a new system.
Prediction: South Korea 3 U.A.E. 0
Lebanon v Kuwait
Disregarded as the worst team still left in Asian qualifying, Lebanon finds themselves just one point behind the top two places after two games. A win here would make them legitimate threats to advance. In its other home contest, Lebanon won 3-1 and would love to repeat that dream result.
Kuwait sits in great shape at the moment, with a road win in the U.A.E. and a draw with favorite South Korea so far. Another road win here would consolidate the side's position in the top two. These sides faced off in a July friendly, with Kuwait trouncing Lebanon 6-0.
Prediction: Lebanon 0 Kuwait 3
Group C
North Korea v Uzbekistan
This is the best game of the day and certainly one of the most important as well. North Korea sits one point adrift of Uzbekistan and the match could be the difference maker in which one of the sides joins Japan in the next round. The North Koreans have a fantastic record at home and will look to ride the crowd's momentum to victory here.
A result in this fixture would be enormous for Uzbekistan. They have already drawn group favorite Japan and if they do the same here, they still could have a shot to win the group. A win is not out of the question either, but it will take a massive defensive effort.
Prediction: North Korea 0 Uzbekistan 0
Japan v Tajikistan
This game could be exactly what Japan needs to reboot its goalscoring strength. A 94th minute strike rescued them in its opener versus North Korea, and then they could not capitalize on opportunities in Uzbekistan. Now they face the worst side in the group and expect to win by a comfortable margin.
A loss here all but eliminates Tajikistan from the competition. Placed into this group following the disqualification of Syria, Tajikistan is just happy to be here and play some more games. They have been stingy defensively so far, dropping both games 1-0, but will continue to struggle to create offense throughout the round.
Prediction: Japan 3 Tajikistan 0
Group D
Australia v Oman
After a nervy opening 45 minutes to its qualifying campaign, Australia has been the dominating team everybody thought it would be. Of all the teams in Asia, they should feel the most comfortable with its current position. They should also expect to win this game easily and wrap up moving onward next month with two games to spare.
Oman is still in the mix for the second spot and a loss here is not the end of the world depending on the result of the other group D match. However, Oman needs to find some way to score goals if they want to have a say in matters. They will find it difficult to do so in this match, as Australia has superior quality at every position.
Prediction: Australia 4 Oman 0
Thailand v Saudi Arabia
Thailand are soaring, sitting in second place after two games. This is a massive game for them and the side needs a win at home if the want to maintain that second spot. The home crowd will be rabid and huge plus for Thailand.
Saudi Arabia is still struggling and having a miserable year. However, thanks to the lack of quality in the group, they are still favored to finish second in the group. Coach Frank Rijkaard needs to figure out how to get the side's attack clicking and if they do not get a result here, he may start feeling the pressure.
Prediction: Thailand 1 Saudi Arabia 1
Group E
Indonesia v Qatar
Indonesia has been the worst team in the third round so far, losing both its opening games and with a negative five goal differential. Nothing less than a win will do for Indonesia if they want to somehow climb back into contention. They will have about 80,000 fans cheering them on tomorrow, which could be enough to propel them to victory in a very winnable game.
Qatar is still a mystery at this point, having drawn both of its games so far. They are in decent shape to still advance, having tied Bahrain on the road and favorite Iran at home. They will be confident at getting all three points despite the long travel and gigantic crowd.
Prediction: Indonesia 1 Qatar 3
Iran v Bahrain
This game is critical for both teams. For Iran, they sit in first place on goal difference although they are hardly assured of advancing. Its performance have not been noteworthy up to this point. Team Melli will have a huge turnout for this home game and should have enough firepower and defensive prowess to come away with the three points.
Bahrain has been something of an enigma so far. While they reside in second place at the moment, they have not been impressive at all. A 0-0 draw at home to Qatar was especially troubling for the side. A result here will alleviate some of these fears, unfortunately it looks unlikely for Bahrain.
Prediction: Iran 2 Bahrain 0
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Asian Friendly Highlights
With the third series of games set to take place Tuesday, most of the sides still left in AFC qualifying prepared with a friendly match this weekend.
Thailand 0 Jordan 0
Thailand prepped for its huge home match against Saudi Arabia by facing Jordan, who will make the short trip to Singapore for its next qualifier. However, neither team could find the net in the game.
Singapore 2 Philippines 0
Singapore traveled to already eliminated side Philippines and came away with a nice 2-0 win. The Philippines were bounced from the competition in round two by Kuwait. Singapore meets Jordan on Tuesday in group A. Unfortunately no highlights of the goals exist.
China 2 U.A.E. 1
The Chinese will host Iraq on Tuesday and gained some much needed confidence with a 2-1 win over the U.A.E. For the U.A.E. it was Abdullah Masfar's first match as head coach. The struggling Gulf nation faces South Korea on Tuesday.
South Korea 2 Poland 2
South Korea prepared for the U.A.E. with a home match versus Euro 2012 co-host Poland. The two sides played an open match that finished two all with each team taking a lead.
Japan 1 Vietnam 0
Group C's Japan hosted eliminated Vietnam and defeated them 1-0. The Vietnamese were knocked out of the competition by Qatar in the previous round. Tadanari Lee scored the lone goal of the match. Japan, who were the only group C team to play a friendly this weekend, matches up with Tajikistan on Tuesday.
Australia 5 Malaysia 0
Australia ran a boatload of goals by the eliminated Malaysia, including four first half ones. Malaysia went out in the second round narrowly to Singapore. Australia remains at home to face its group D counterpart Oman on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia 0 Indonesia 0
Group D's Saudi Arabia traveled to group E's Indonesia in a match between two stumbling teams. Neither side could break through in the friendly and it finished goalless. Saudi Arabia now makes the short trip to Thailand while Indonesia stays home to face Qatar.
Iran 7 Palestine 0
Iran routed eliminated Palestine 7-0 as it got ready to face Bahrain at home on Tuesday. Palestine, who was eliminated in round two by Thailand, did not put up much of a fight in the second half as Iran scored six in the final 45.
Thailand 0 Jordan 0
Thailand prepped for its huge home match against Saudi Arabia by facing Jordan, who will make the short trip to Singapore for its next qualifier. However, neither team could find the net in the game.
Singapore 2 Philippines 0
Singapore traveled to already eliminated side Philippines and came away with a nice 2-0 win. The Philippines were bounced from the competition in round two by Kuwait. Singapore meets Jordan on Tuesday in group A. Unfortunately no highlights of the goals exist.
China 2 U.A.E. 1
The Chinese will host Iraq on Tuesday and gained some much needed confidence with a 2-1 win over the U.A.E. For the U.A.E. it was Abdullah Masfar's first match as head coach. The struggling Gulf nation faces South Korea on Tuesday.
South Korea 2 Poland 2
South Korea prepared for the U.A.E. with a home match versus Euro 2012 co-host Poland. The two sides played an open match that finished two all with each team taking a lead.
Japan 1 Vietnam 0
Group C's Japan hosted eliminated Vietnam and defeated them 1-0. The Vietnamese were knocked out of the competition by Qatar in the previous round. Tadanari Lee scored the lone goal of the match. Japan, who were the only group C team to play a friendly this weekend, matches up with Tajikistan on Tuesday.
Australia 5 Malaysia 0
Australia ran a boatload of goals by the eliminated Malaysia, including four first half ones. Malaysia went out in the second round narrowly to Singapore. Australia remains at home to face its group D counterpart Oman on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia 0 Indonesia 0
Group D's Saudi Arabia traveled to group E's Indonesia in a match between two stumbling teams. Neither side could break through in the friendly and it finished goalless. Saudi Arabia now makes the short trip to Thailand while Indonesia stays home to face Qatar.
Iran 7 Palestine 0
Iran routed eliminated Palestine 7-0 as it got ready to face Bahrain at home on Tuesday. Palestine, who was eliminated in round two by Thailand, did not put up much of a fight in the second half as Iran scored six in the final 45.
CONCACAF Qualifying Highlights from Matchday Three
These are the highlights that are available as of now. More will be posted here when they come out.
El Salvador 2 Dominican Republic 1
Bermuda 2 Trinidad and Tobago 1
Grenada 4 Belize 1
El Salvador 2 Dominican Republic 1
Bermuda 2 Trinidad and Tobago 1
Grenada 4 Belize 1
Saturday, October 8, 2011
CONMEBOL Qualifying Highlights
Uruguay 4 Bolivia 2
Ecuador 2 Venezuela 0
Argentina 4 Chile 1
Peru 2 Paraguay 0
Ecuador 2 Venezuela 0
Argentina 4 Chile 1
Peru 2 Paraguay 0
Friday, October 7, 2011
Suriname, Anitgua and Barbuda Get 1-0 Road Wins
Suriname scrapped its way to a 1-0 victory in the Cayman Islands to keep its slim hopes of topping group A alive. The loss eliminates Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands gave a positive account of themselves at home to El Salvador last month and Suriname knew they were in for a tight match.
After a scoreless first half Suriname finally got the goal they cherished so much in the 58th minute courtesy of Giovanni Drenthe.
The win keeps Suriname two points back of El Salvador and they will host Dominican Republic on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Cayman Islands travel to El Salvador. (Match report)
Antigua and Barbuda kept pace with Haiti on wins, but fell behind a goal difference after they only beat Curaçao 1-0.
Curaçao made the away side work hard, frustrating Antigua and Barbuda throughout the match. Finally with about 15 minutes to go, Tamarley Thomas eased the hearts of Antigua and Barbuda with a huge goal.
However, Antigua and Barbuda has now dropped out of first place in group F due to its inferior goal differential to Haiti. It is now positive 11 while Haiti's is positive 14.
The side will help to run up the score against the U.S. Virgin Islands on Tuesday while Curacao will hope for a result in Haiti. (Match report)
The Cayman Islands gave a positive account of themselves at home to El Salvador last month and Suriname knew they were in for a tight match.
After a scoreless first half Suriname finally got the goal they cherished so much in the 58th minute courtesy of Giovanni Drenthe.
The win keeps Suriname two points back of El Salvador and they will host Dominican Republic on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Cayman Islands travel to El Salvador. (Match report)
Antigua and Barbuda kept pace with Haiti on wins, but fell behind a goal difference after they only beat Curaçao 1-0.
Curaçao made the away side work hard, frustrating Antigua and Barbuda throughout the match. Finally with about 15 minutes to go, Tamarley Thomas eased the hearts of Antigua and Barbuda with a huge goal.
However, Antigua and Barbuda has now dropped out of first place in group F due to its inferior goal differential to Haiti. It is now positive 11 while Haiti's is positive 14.
The side will help to run up the score against the U.S. Virgin Islands on Tuesday while Curacao will hope for a result in Haiti. (Match report)
Puerto Rico and Saint Kitts and Nevis Draw
Puerto Rico and Saint Kitts and Nevis shared the spoils once again in their matchup. The game finished 1-1.
The teams drew 0-0 in their opening matches last month and like then, the point does neither side any good.
Andres Cabrero gave Puerto Rico the lead late in the first half, which the home side held for the majority of the match.
However, Ian Lake scored his second goal of qualifying to even the match just before the hour mark. Neither side could break the deadlock afterwards and it finished 1-1.
Both sides may potentially find themselves eliminated on Tuesday if they fail to win. Puerto Rico travels to Canada and SKN will host Saint Lucia. (Match report)
The teams drew 0-0 in their opening matches last month and like then, the point does neither side any good.
Andres Cabrero gave Puerto Rico the lead late in the first half, which the home side held for the majority of the match.
However, Ian Lake scored his second goal of qualifying to even the match just before the hour mark. Neither side could break the deadlock afterwards and it finished 1-1.
Both sides may potentially find themselves eliminated on Tuesday if they fail to win. Puerto Rico travels to Canada and SKN will host Saint Lucia. (Match report)
Bermuda Shocks T&T, Grenada Returns the Favor to Belize
Bermuda put a serious dent in Trinidad and Tobago's hopes of winning group B with a 2-1 home triumph.
Bermuda has proven a thorn in T&T's side previously, and now the losing side falls three points behind Guyana for the top spot.
After a scoreless first half, Antwan Russell struck in the 53rd minute to give the hosts an advantage. Despite Trinidadian pressure, Nahki Wells doubled Bermuda's lead in the 63rd.
Kevin Molino raised T&T's hopes by pulling a goal back in the 81st. However, they could not find the equalizer and slumped to a defeat.
Bermuda will look to maintain its momentum in another home match against Guyana while Trinidad hosts Barbados and needs a win. (Match report)
After being shocked 3-0 by Belize in its opening match at home, Grenada routed Belize in the return fixture 4-1.
The win keeps Grenada's slim hopes of moving onward alive while it deals a crushing blow to Belize's chances.
Grenada put the game to bed in the opening half with three goals and coasted from then on. The side will host St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday in another must win match. Belize travels to Guatemala and needs to win to stay alive. (Match report)
Bermuda has proven a thorn in T&T's side previously, and now the losing side falls three points behind Guyana for the top spot.
After a scoreless first half, Antwan Russell struck in the 53rd minute to give the hosts an advantage. Despite Trinidadian pressure, Nahki Wells doubled Bermuda's lead in the 63rd.
Kevin Molino raised T&T's hopes by pulling a goal back in the 81st. However, they could not find the equalizer and slumped to a defeat.
Bermuda will look to maintain its momentum in another home match against Guyana while Trinidad hosts Barbados and needs a win. (Match report)
After being shocked 3-0 by Belize in its opening match at home, Grenada routed Belize in the return fixture 4-1.
The win keeps Grenada's slim hopes of moving onward alive while it deals a crushing blow to Belize's chances.
Grenada put the game to bed in the opening half with three goals and coasted from then on. The side will host St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday in another must win match. Belize travels to Guatemala and needs to win to stay alive. (Match report)
Panama and Canada Cruise
Panama put themselves in position to qualify for the next round with an easy 5-0 win in Dominica. They now can qualify for the next round with a win over Nicaragua on Tuesday.
The two stars for Panama, Blas Perez and Luis Tejada, each scored a goal in this match as the Central American side had no problems traveling to the Caribbean. Amir Waithe had a brace and opened the scoring for Panama. Ricardo Buitrago had the other goal.
Dominica continued its disappointing performance in this round with its second consecutive home loss. They entered as the second seed and now appeared to be headed toward a last place finish in group C. (Match report)
Canada crushed Saint Lucia 7-0 with a thorough performance on the road. Norwich City player Simeon Jackson paced the side with three goals.
Jackson already had scored two goals in the first 30 minutes of the match before Olivier Occean put it out of reach in the 35th. Occean ended up with two goals.
Ian Hume and Ashtone Morgan added a second half goal apiece to round out the scoring and keep Canada's perfect record intact and increase its goal difference to positive 13.
Canada could clinch the group provided they defeat Puerto Rico on Tuesday and get help elsewhere. (Match report)
The two stars for Panama, Blas Perez and Luis Tejada, each scored a goal in this match as the Central American side had no problems traveling to the Caribbean. Amir Waithe had a brace and opened the scoring for Panama. Ricardo Buitrago had the other goal.
Dominica continued its disappointing performance in this round with its second consecutive home loss. They entered as the second seed and now appeared to be headed toward a last place finish in group C. (Match report)
Canada crushed Saint Lucia 7-0 with a thorough performance on the road. Norwich City player Simeon Jackson paced the side with three goals.
Jackson already had scored two goals in the first 30 minutes of the match before Olivier Occean put it out of reach in the 35th. Occean ended up with two goals.
Ian Hume and Ashtone Morgan added a second half goal apiece to round out the scoring and keep Canada's perfect record intact and increase its goal difference to positive 13.
Canada could clinch the group provided they defeat Puerto Rico on Tuesday and get help elsewhere. (Match report)
Ecuador and Argentina Dominate at Home
Ecuador alleviated some of the fears about its recent poor form with an impressive 2-0 win against Venezuela.
The home nation, which struggled during the Copa America, used two goals in the first 30 minutes to coast to the victory. Jaimen Ayovi got Ecuador off and running with a strike in the 15th. Cristian Benitez tallied the other goal in the 28th minute. Venezuela had its captain, Jose Manuel Rey sent off late in the match.
Ecuador has off on Tuesday and will travel to the United States for a friendly while Venezuela has a tough fixture coming up at home to Argentina. (Match report)
Argentina crushed Chile 4-1 that demonstrated the side's quality as one off the best in the world. Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain put three in the back of the net while Lionel Messi also added one.
Both sides were attacking all out throughout the match and Argentina exposed Chile's backline early with Higuain scoring his first in the eighth minute. Messi then scored in the 26th to give Argentina a comfortable two goal lead. Higuain added his second just after the break.
Matias Fernandez gave Chile some hope of a positive result by pulling a goal back in the 59th minute. However, Argentina answered almost immediately as Higuain completed his hat-trick in the 63rd.
Argentina now travels to Venezuela while Chile hopes to pick up its first points at home to Peru. (Match report)
The home nation, which struggled during the Copa America, used two goals in the first 30 minutes to coast to the victory. Jaimen Ayovi got Ecuador off and running with a strike in the 15th. Cristian Benitez tallied the other goal in the 28th minute. Venezuela had its captain, Jose Manuel Rey sent off late in the match.
Ecuador has off on Tuesday and will travel to the United States for a friendly while Venezuela has a tough fixture coming up at home to Argentina. (Match report)
Argentina crushed Chile 4-1 that demonstrated the side's quality as one off the best in the world. Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain put three in the back of the net while Lionel Messi also added one.
Both sides were attacking all out throughout the match and Argentina exposed Chile's backline early with Higuain scoring his first in the eighth minute. Messi then scored in the 26th to give Argentina a comfortable two goal lead. Higuain added his second just after the break.
Matias Fernandez gave Chile some hope of a positive result by pulling a goal back in the 59th minute. However, Argentina answered almost immediately as Higuain completed his hat-trick in the 63rd.
Argentina now travels to Venezuela while Chile hopes to pick up its first points at home to Peru. (Match report)
Guyana Gets Huge Win, Haiti Runs Riot
Guyana bolstered its hopes of advancing thanks to two second half goals in Barbados. The loss eliminates Barbados from finishing top of the group.
The majority of the match gave the impression of a dull 0-0 draw until Guyana made the breakthrough in the 73rd minute. Anthony Abrams was the hero for Guyana. In the 87th minute, Guyana made sure of the three points when Chris Nurse poked home a shot.
The win extends Guyana's winning streak to three in the group and keeps them in control of its own destiny.
Guyana now stays on the road to face Bermuda while Barbados will travel to Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday. (Match report)
Haiti improved its goal difference with a crushing 7-0 victory in the U.S. Virgin Islands while eliminating the home nation in the process.
For the moment Haiti moves into first place in the group. Jean Maurice lead the way with a hat-trick including the opening goal in just the fifth minute. Reginal Gourex also added a brace.
Kim Jaggy and Kervens Belfort completed the scoring for the Haitains who now have a goal difference of positive 15.
Haiti now hosts Curacao on Tuesday while the USVI will travel to Antigua and Barbuda. (Match report)
The majority of the match gave the impression of a dull 0-0 draw until Guyana made the breakthrough in the 73rd minute. Anthony Abrams was the hero for Guyana. In the 87th minute, Guyana made sure of the three points when Chris Nurse poked home a shot.
The win extends Guyana's winning streak to three in the group and keeps them in control of its own destiny.
Guyana now stays on the road to face Bermuda while Barbados will travel to Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday. (Match report)
Haiti improved its goal difference with a crushing 7-0 victory in the U.S. Virgin Islands while eliminating the home nation in the process.
For the moment Haiti moves into first place in the group. Jean Maurice lead the way with a hat-trick including the opening goal in just the fifth minute. Reginal Gourex also added a brace.
Kim Jaggy and Kervens Belfort completed the scoring for the Haitains who now have a goal difference of positive 15.
Haiti now hosts Curacao on Tuesday while the USVI will travel to Antigua and Barbuda. (Match report)
Guatemala and El Salvador Win in the Caribbean
Guatemala eased to a 3-0 victory over pesky St. Vincent and the Grenadines to take control of group E.
Mario Rodriguez scored a brace, opening the scoring a minute before halftime and then extending the lead to 3-0 early in the second half after taking advantage of a defensive lapse from Vincy Heat.
Dwight Pezzarossi was on target for his 14th international goal in the 55th minute to put the game out of reach. The striker was able to get on the end of a flicked header in the box and volleyed a shot by the keeper.
Guatemala now can basically wrap up the group with a win on Tuesday at home to Belize while St. Vincent and the Grenadines travel to Grenada. (Match report)
El Salvador came away with a hard-fought 2-1 win in the Dominican Republic. The loss eliminates the Dominican Republic from contention.
Osael Romero and Mark Blanco were the goalscorers for El Salvador who dominated most of the play and now sit comfortably atop group A.
Romero opened the scoring in the 38th minute by converting a penalty kick after Ernesto Jimenez was sent off for the Dominicans. However, the 10 men fought back and equalized in the second half through Erick Ozuna.
El Salvador's dominance in quality and numbers eventually came out on top, Blanco scored the match winner in the 67th.
El Salvador returns home to host the Cayman Islands on Tuesday while the Dominican Republic travel to Suriname. (Match report)
Mario Rodriguez scored a brace, opening the scoring a minute before halftime and then extending the lead to 3-0 early in the second half after taking advantage of a defensive lapse from Vincy Heat.
Dwight Pezzarossi was on target for his 14th international goal in the 55th minute to put the game out of reach. The striker was able to get on the end of a flicked header in the box and volleyed a shot by the keeper.
Guatemala now can basically wrap up the group with a win on Tuesday at home to Belize while St. Vincent and the Grenadines travel to Grenada. (Match report)
El Salvador came away with a hard-fought 2-1 win in the Dominican Republic. The loss eliminates the Dominican Republic from contention.
Osael Romero and Mark Blanco were the goalscorers for El Salvador who dominated most of the play and now sit comfortably atop group A.
Romero opened the scoring in the 38th minute by converting a penalty kick after Ernesto Jimenez was sent off for the Dominicans. However, the 10 men fought back and equalized in the second half through Erick Ozuna.
El Salvador's dominance in quality and numbers eventually came out on top, Blanco scored the match winner in the 67th.
El Salvador returns home to host the Cayman Islands on Tuesday while the Dominican Republic travel to Suriname. (Match report)
Uruguay Begins Qualifying On a High
Uruguay opened South American qualifying with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Bolivia. The Copa America winners received two goals from center defender Diego Lugano in the win.
The match was open from the beginning with Uruguay on the attacking foot. Just four minutes in Liverpool man Luis Suarez put the Uruguayans ahead and the rout looked on. However, Rudy Cardozo equalized for Bolivia in the 18th minute to briefly restore the country's hope of a positive result.
From then on it was all Uruguay. Lugano put the home side back on top in the 26th minute before Napoli forward Edison Cavani tallied in the 35th minute. Lugano added his second of the match in the 72nd to squash any hope of a Bolivian comeback. Marcelo Martins added Bolivia's second on a penalty in the 88th.
Bolivia returns home to host Colombia while Uruguay travels to neighbor Paraguay for their next matches on Tuesday.
The match was open from the beginning with Uruguay on the attacking foot. Just four minutes in Liverpool man Luis Suarez put the Uruguayans ahead and the rout looked on. However, Rudy Cardozo equalized for Bolivia in the 18th minute to briefly restore the country's hope of a positive result.
From then on it was all Uruguay. Lugano put the home side back on top in the 26th minute before Napoli forward Edison Cavani tallied in the 35th minute. Lugano added his second of the match in the 72nd to squash any hope of a Bolivian comeback. Marcelo Martins added Bolivia's second on a penalty in the 88th.
Bolivia returns home to host Colombia while Uruguay travels to neighbor Paraguay for their next matches on Tuesday.
CONMEBOL Matchday One Preview
South American qualifying gets underway this afternoon with four games. Brazil has already qualified for the World Cup as hosts and do not participate in qualifying. The remaining nine teams in the confederation will play each other home and away with the top four qualifying directly to the World Cup and the fifth place team entering the playoff with the Asian Confederation. As always, home team listed first.
Uruguay v Bolivia
The 2011 Copa America winners and 2010 World Cup semifinalists are one of the favorites to top the South American table. A powerful strike force which includes Luis Suarez, Edison Cavani and Diego Forlan should score plenty of goals. Uruguay is still riding high from its summer success and should open qualifying with a bang.
Bolivia is a longshot to qualify, but does have the huge benefit of playing its home games in the high altitude of La Paz. Unfortunately they open on the road against one of the elite teams. Bolivia has also been in terrible form as of late with no wins in the last six months.
Prediction: Uruguay 3 Bolivia 0
Ecuador v Venezuela
Ecuador has had a disappointing 2011 so far, finishing bottom of its group in the Copa America. The side missed out on the playoff spot last cycle by only one point and realizes the need to start out on the right foot.
Venezuela has rapidly improved in the last few years and believes this could be the cycle when they finally qualify for a World Cup. The side made the semifinals of the Copa America and will be going all out for the three points, since they face Argentina in the next match.
Prediction: Ecuador 1 Venezuela 2
Argentina v Chile
The match of the day sees Argentina host Chile. The home side is looking to put the Copa America behind them where they went out in the quarterfinals. There is so much talent in this side, but they often fall below expectations as a team. However, they still are one of the most dangerous sides in the world.
Chile was the surprise of last cycle in South America, qualifying comfortably and making the second round of the World Cup. A side filled with young talent, they have the potential to grab a point or all three in this match. Both these sides expect to be comfortably near the top throughout qualifying.
Prediction: Argentina 2 Chile 1
Peru v Paraguay
Peru hopes to ride its momentum of a third place finish in the Copa America to a place in the World Cup. However, they are not expected to contend for one of the advancing spots and do suffer from a lack in quality.
2010 World Cup quarterfinalist Paraguay finished runners up at the Copa America and desires three points in Peru for the opening match. Paraguay rides a disciplined defense, but has had problems scoring goals in the past.
Prediction: Peru 0 Paraguay 0
Uruguay v Bolivia
The 2011 Copa America winners and 2010 World Cup semifinalists are one of the favorites to top the South American table. A powerful strike force which includes Luis Suarez, Edison Cavani and Diego Forlan should score plenty of goals. Uruguay is still riding high from its summer success and should open qualifying with a bang.
Bolivia is a longshot to qualify, but does have the huge benefit of playing its home games in the high altitude of La Paz. Unfortunately they open on the road against one of the elite teams. Bolivia has also been in terrible form as of late with no wins in the last six months.
Prediction: Uruguay 3 Bolivia 0
Ecuador v Venezuela
Ecuador has had a disappointing 2011 so far, finishing bottom of its group in the Copa America. The side missed out on the playoff spot last cycle by only one point and realizes the need to start out on the right foot.
Venezuela has rapidly improved in the last few years and believes this could be the cycle when they finally qualify for a World Cup. The side made the semifinals of the Copa America and will be going all out for the three points, since they face Argentina in the next match.
Prediction: Ecuador 1 Venezuela 2
Argentina v Chile
The match of the day sees Argentina host Chile. The home side is looking to put the Copa America behind them where they went out in the quarterfinals. There is so much talent in this side, but they often fall below expectations as a team. However, they still are one of the most dangerous sides in the world.
Chile was the surprise of last cycle in South America, qualifying comfortably and making the second round of the World Cup. A side filled with young talent, they have the potential to grab a point or all three in this match. Both these sides expect to be comfortably near the top throughout qualifying.
Prediction: Argentina 2 Chile 1
Peru v Paraguay
Peru hopes to ride its momentum of a third place finish in the Copa America to a place in the World Cup. However, they are not expected to contend for one of the advancing spots and do suffer from a lack in quality.
2010 World Cup quarterfinalist Paraguay finished runners up at the Copa America and desires three points in Peru for the opening match. Paraguay rides a disciplined defense, but has had problems scoring goals in the past.
Prediction: Peru 0 Paraguay 0
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