So far, all the groups aside from group B in CONCACAF have had a definite favorite. The two groups left to preview are not so clear-cut. Group E features Belize, Grenada, Guatemala and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It also features a couple of great players, including one that may be the difference for his team winning the group or failing to advance. The winner will join USA, Jamaica and the winner of group F in the next round.
Belize
FIFA rank: 148
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 9-0 on aggregate to Mexico in round two
Thanks to its two victories against Montserrat in the first round, Belize currently holds its highest FIFA ranking ever at the moment. The two wins were just the second and third in the country's history in world cup qualifying, the other being against Saint Kitts and Nevis in round one of qualifying for the 2010 finals.
Keep in mind that Belize is lucky to still be in the competition at this point. On June 17th, two days before the second leg against Montserrat, FIFA suspended Belize for government interference in football. If the match was not rescheduled by July 10th, Belize would have been thrown out of the competition. Fortunately for the country, FIFA lifted the suspension on July 7th.
Generally regarded as the weakest Central American nation, Belize has never qualified for a CONCACAF Gold Cup or even advanced out of the group stage of the UNCAF Nations Cup, the tournament between the seven Central American national teams. In eight tournaments, Belize has never won a match and its only points are three draws, one against Guatemala and twice versus Nicaragua.
Most of Belize's national team members play in the domestic league, the Belize Premier Football League, which was won by the club Belize Defense Force Football Club. The team's elite players play in the stronger Honduras domestic league, such as goalie Shane Moody-Orio, midfielders Elroy Smith and Harrison Roches and striker Deon McCauley. McCaulay is currently the second top-scorer in CONCACAF thanks to his four goals in the first round.
Belize does not have the talent, depth nor facilities (they may play its home games in Honduras) to compete in this group and the country's best-case scenario would be coming in third in this group.
Grenada
FIFA rank: 120
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 5-2 on aggregate to Costa Rica in round two
Grenada made it in to the top-seeded pot due to strong performances in the past two Caribbean Cups, which helped them qualify for the last two Gold Cups. The side finished second in the 2008 Caribbean Cup, defeating Cuba on penalties in the semifinals before falling to Jamaica 2-0 in the final. In the 2010 edition, Grenada placed fourth, losing to Jamaica in extra time in the semifinals.
Despite making the 2009 and 2011 Gold Cups, Grenada's performance in both tournaments have not been anything to write home about. The team has lost all six games they have played in the competition, scoring just one goal while conceding 25. In 2011, one of the losses was to fellow group member Guatemala, a 4-0 thrashing, not a good sign for Grenada's hopes of topping this group. However, they were missing an integral part of their side.
Shalrie Joseph is the best player the country has ever produced. He has played for the New England Revolution since 2003, appearing 228 times and scoring 33 goals. The two-way midfielder has attracted interest from Europe with Celtic being interested several times. Joseph has been named to the MLS best XI four different times in his career. For the national team, Joseph has 30 caps and played in the 2009 Gold Cup and past World Cup qualifiers. However, he declined the invitation to participate in the 2011 Gold Cup, wanting to play for his club instead. It is uncertain if he will make the same decision for the qualifiers since MLS does not break for FIFA dates. The Revolution currently sit far outside the MLS playoff picture, so there is not much incentive for Joseph to stay with the club for late season games. Joesph's presence on the field for Grenada changes so much, he controls the offense,breaks up plays on defense and is a real game-changer.
As for the rest of the squad, members mostly play in the lower divisions of England, MLS or in the country's domestic league. Midfielder Craig Rocastle is an important player and plays for Sporting Kanasas City. Forward Marcus Julien is a unique member of the squad. Instead of following fellow national team players to England or the USA, Julien plays for North Imphal Sporting Association in the Indian second division.
Grenada may be the only top-seeded team that is not favored to advance out of the group. They have the talent to win, but must work out their defensive issues and convince Joseph to play in the qualifiers if they want a chance at moving on.
Guatemala
FIFA rank: 115
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round three with five points from six games
Surprisingly, Guatemala was not in the top-seeded pot for this round. One of CONCACAF's above-average teams, Guatemala was relegated to the second pot because of its failure to qualify for the 2009 Gold Cup, poor performances in 2010 and in the 2011 UNCAF Nations Cup.
Guatemala did have a satisfactory performance in this summer's Gold Cup. They advanced to the knockout stage with four points from their three group games, a 4-0 win against Grenada and a 0-0 draw with Honduras. In the quarterfinals they took an early lead versus eventual champion Mexico, but were beaten back by two second half goals.
Historically, Guatemala has never qualified for the World Cup, with its best result coming in 2006 qualifying. There the side made the final round hex. They finished fifth with 11 points from their 10 games, just two points back of Trinidad and Tobago, who would go on to qualify for the finals after defeating Bahrain in the intercontinental playoff. In 2010 qualifying Guatemala reached the third round, but failed to advance after losing out to the USA and T&T once again.
Guatemala's best players are a mix of the old and the new. Carlos Ruiz, 31, now plays for Veracruz in Mexico after years in MLS and is Guatemala's leading goalscorer with 44 goals. Marco Pappa, 23, currently plays for the Chicago Fire and has greatly impressed this year. Pappa has three goals for the national team including one against Grenada in the Gold Cup. Most of the rest of the team plays in the domestic league where C.S.D. Municipal is the most successful team.
Guatemala is a team that has traditionally played very well at home and will need to defeat Grenada at home if they want to advance. If they get great performances from their midfield and defense, they should have enough to win the group.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
FIFA rank: 161
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 7-1 on aggregate to Canada in round two
Like its similarly named island nation Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' best qualifying result came during 2006 qualifying. Back then, the side defeated Nicaragua 6-3 on aggregate in the second round to make the third round and group stage with Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and SKN. St. Vincent defeated SKN both times but fell in its other four games and did not advance along with Mexico and T&T.
Recently, St. Vincent had a decent showing at the 2010 Caribbean Cup. They advanced to the second qualifying phase after coming in second place in their group in round one. A 7-0 win over Montserrat was enough to see them through on goal difference following draws with SKN and Barbados. In round two St. Vincent finished bottom of its group, losing to T&T, Haiti and Guyana.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the stronger nations in the Caribbean, but has never qualified for the World Cup and has only made one Gold Cup, way back in 1996 where they qualified due to its second place finish in the 1995 Caribbean Cup.
The players that make up the national team mostly play in the domestic league, the NLA Premier League. The current champion is Avenues United Football Club. Other squad members play in Trinidad and Tobago including all-time leading scorer Shandel Stewart who has scored 35 international goals. The side is relatively young and includes 21-year-old Cornelius Stewart who plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not have the talent nor experience to repeat its accomplishments from 2006 qualifying and will be fitting Belize to stay off the bottom of the group.
Prediction
This group may hinge on whether or not Joseph decides to play for Grenada and will likely go down to the final game between Grenada and Guatemala. I think Guatemala wins the group narrowly because of better team defense.
1. Guatemala
2. Grenada
3. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
4. Belize
Monday, August 15, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
CONCACAF Round 2: Group D Preview
Group D is next as we continue to preview the second round of CONCACAF qualifying, which starts Sept. 2nd. This group features Canada, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia. The winner joins Honduras, Cuba and the winner from group C which, we previewed a couple days ago. Canada must have been happy to draw this group, not only are they the overwhelming favorite, but they also get to visit three different tropical islands where the weather is a lot nicer than Canada. Let's begin our preview with the Canadians.
Canada
FIFA rank: 102
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round three with two points from six games
After yet another disappointing Gold Cup, Canada failed to advance from group play, Canada must try to shed their label as CONCACAF's underachievers with a successful run in qualifying. Canada has only qualified for one World Cup in their history, back in 1986. Since then their qualifying campaigns have been full of falling short of expectations.
Bad luck has a strange way of striking the Canadians. In the Gold Cup this summer they were minutes away from advancing, leading Panama 1-0. However, in the 91st minute they gave up a goal on a goalmouth scramble that saw the ball ping off of several players before ending up in the back of the net courtesy of Luis Tejada.
Qualifying has not gone well for the Canadians since making their lone World Cup appearance. In 1990 qualifying they were upset by Guatemala in a home-and-home series in the early round. The next cycle brought bitter defeat, in penalties to Australia in the intercontinental playoff. They made the final round of qualifying for the 1998 edition, but ended with just six points from 10 games and a -15 goal differential. After winning the 2000 Gold Cup, Canada expected to make the 2002 World Cup. They did not even make the final round of qualifying, with Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago advancing out of their group in round three. They fell at the same point in 2006 and 2010 qualifying, finishing bottom of its group both times.
The problem for Canada is scoring goals. Dwayne De Rosario is a great player, but is now 33 and his production will begin to fade away. Ali Gerba has talent and will be counted on to score along with De Rosario. Will Johnson, Atiba Hutchinson, Josh Simpson, Nik Ledgerwood and Julian De Guzman provide a suitable arsenal in midfield, one whose quality surpasses the weaker teams but can not quite measure up to the giants of CONCACAF. In net, Lars Hirschfeld brings experience, but lacks the quality to be a game-changer.
Canada should be able to navigate its group without much of a problem, but it has stumbled in situations before. The next round, should they make it, will be the true test for Canada.
Puerto Rico
FIFA rank: 141
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 6-2 on aggregate to Honduras in round two
After a decade of struggles, a lack of infrastructure in the country and lack of talent, Puerto Rican football has seen a small surge as of late. This can be credited to the success of the club team Puerto Rico Islanders in the North American Soccer League as well as a more focused effort to improve the national team such as the 2008 creation of a domestic league.
In the 2010 Caribbean Cup, Puerto Rico won its group in the first preliminary round of qualifying. The side won all its games, against Anguilla, Saint-Martin and the Cayman Islands. They were eliminated in the second preliminary round, losing all three of its matches.
Most of the national team's members play for the Islanders or in the USA for either colleges or clubs in the lower divisions. Several members of the squad come from the domestic league, mainly Sevilla FC Puerto Rico, who finished the regular season in first place in 2011. Puerto Rico has also started searching for Americans with Puerto Rican eligibility to call in to the squad.
Puerto Rico will not win the group, but may impress with some surprising results and potentially come in second place.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
FIFA rank: 122
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 4-2 on aggregate to Belize in round one
SKN had its best qualifying run during 2006 qualifying. The side beat US Virgin Islands in round one and Barbados in round two to make it to the group stage in round three. However, they were severely over-matched against the likes of Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. SKN lost all six games and only scored two goals while giving up 24. Still, making that round was a great accomplishment for the tiny island nation.
The team failed to get past the second preliminary round of qualifying in the 2010 Caribbean Cup. They won their group in round one with five points, defeating Montserrat and drawing Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In round two they did defeat Puerto Rico, which is a good sign for this round, but fell to Guadeloupe and Grenada.
Earlier this year the team played two friendlies against Grenada, a team that qualified for the Gold Cup and was seeded in the first pot for this round of qualifying. SKN picked up to nice results, drawing the first game 0-0 and winning the second 1-0. That's a good sign heading into this round. SKN will continue to prep by playing an exhibition game against India on the 16th.
Most of SKN's players are unattached or play in the weak domestic league. A few do play overseas with the most noteworthy being current Vancouver Whitecaps striker Atiba Harris. Harris is known for his time at Chivas USA, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake and for being Micah Richards' cousin.
SKN does not have the talent to repeat their underdog run in 2006 qualifying, but they should have enough to place second.
Saint Lucia
FIFA rank: 183
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 9-1 on aggregate to Guatemala in round two
Saint Lucia can count itself lucky to make the second round of qualifying. One of the five first round winners, the side lost the first leg 4-2 to Aruba and seemed to be headed out. They rebounded and won 4-2 in the second leg, and then scraped through in penalties to advance.
In the 2010 Caribbean Cup, Saint Lucia finished bottom of its group in the first round of preliminary qualifying with its lone point being a draw against the Netherlands Antilles. They played tight games against the two advancing teams Guyana and Suriname, falling by one goal to each. Saint Lucia is the second-lowest ranked team in CONCACAF next to Bermuda who is ranked two spots lower.
The country's domestic league was created in 2005 and is called the Saint Lucia Gold Division. All but a few players on the national team play in the domestic league. The few that do not play in Trinidad and Tobago. One player that has appeared twice for Saint Lucia provides serious intrigue.
Zaine Pierre plays for W Connection in Trinidad and Tobago and has attracted interest from English Premier League teams. A young attacking midfielder, Pierre is only 17. Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester City and Stoke City have been linked in the past year as well as several clubs in Spain and Italy. Pierre's play in qualifying if he is called in is something to keep an eye on.
Saint Lucia does not have the talent to win games against these type of teams, its best hope is to try and keep games close and steal some points here and there.
Prediction
Canada will not stumble in this round and advance easily while SKN and Puerto Rico will battle it out for second with Saint Lucia bringing up the rear.
1. Canada
2. Saint Kitts and Nevis
3. Puerto Rico
4. Saint Lucia
Canada
FIFA rank: 102
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round three with two points from six games
After yet another disappointing Gold Cup, Canada failed to advance from group play, Canada must try to shed their label as CONCACAF's underachievers with a successful run in qualifying. Canada has only qualified for one World Cup in their history, back in 1986. Since then their qualifying campaigns have been full of falling short of expectations.
Bad luck has a strange way of striking the Canadians. In the Gold Cup this summer they were minutes away from advancing, leading Panama 1-0. However, in the 91st minute they gave up a goal on a goalmouth scramble that saw the ball ping off of several players before ending up in the back of the net courtesy of Luis Tejada.
Qualifying has not gone well for the Canadians since making their lone World Cup appearance. In 1990 qualifying they were upset by Guatemala in a home-and-home series in the early round. The next cycle brought bitter defeat, in penalties to Australia in the intercontinental playoff. They made the final round of qualifying for the 1998 edition, but ended with just six points from 10 games and a -15 goal differential. After winning the 2000 Gold Cup, Canada expected to make the 2002 World Cup. They did not even make the final round of qualifying, with Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago advancing out of their group in round three. They fell at the same point in 2006 and 2010 qualifying, finishing bottom of its group both times.
The problem for Canada is scoring goals. Dwayne De Rosario is a great player, but is now 33 and his production will begin to fade away. Ali Gerba has talent and will be counted on to score along with De Rosario. Will Johnson, Atiba Hutchinson, Josh Simpson, Nik Ledgerwood and Julian De Guzman provide a suitable arsenal in midfield, one whose quality surpasses the weaker teams but can not quite measure up to the giants of CONCACAF. In net, Lars Hirschfeld brings experience, but lacks the quality to be a game-changer.
Canada should be able to navigate its group without much of a problem, but it has stumbled in situations before. The next round, should they make it, will be the true test for Canada.
Puerto Rico
FIFA rank: 141
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 6-2 on aggregate to Honduras in round two
After a decade of struggles, a lack of infrastructure in the country and lack of talent, Puerto Rican football has seen a small surge as of late. This can be credited to the success of the club team Puerto Rico Islanders in the North American Soccer League as well as a more focused effort to improve the national team such as the 2008 creation of a domestic league.
In the 2010 Caribbean Cup, Puerto Rico won its group in the first preliminary round of qualifying. The side won all its games, against Anguilla, Saint-Martin and the Cayman Islands. They were eliminated in the second preliminary round, losing all three of its matches.
Most of the national team's members play for the Islanders or in the USA for either colleges or clubs in the lower divisions. Several members of the squad come from the domestic league, mainly Sevilla FC Puerto Rico, who finished the regular season in first place in 2011. Puerto Rico has also started searching for Americans with Puerto Rican eligibility to call in to the squad.
Puerto Rico will not win the group, but may impress with some surprising results and potentially come in second place.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
FIFA rank: 122
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 4-2 on aggregate to Belize in round one
SKN had its best qualifying run during 2006 qualifying. The side beat US Virgin Islands in round one and Barbados in round two to make it to the group stage in round three. However, they were severely over-matched against the likes of Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. SKN lost all six games and only scored two goals while giving up 24. Still, making that round was a great accomplishment for the tiny island nation.
The team failed to get past the second preliminary round of qualifying in the 2010 Caribbean Cup. They won their group in round one with five points, defeating Montserrat and drawing Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In round two they did defeat Puerto Rico, which is a good sign for this round, but fell to Guadeloupe and Grenada.
Earlier this year the team played two friendlies against Grenada, a team that qualified for the Gold Cup and was seeded in the first pot for this round of qualifying. SKN picked up to nice results, drawing the first game 0-0 and winning the second 1-0. That's a good sign heading into this round. SKN will continue to prep by playing an exhibition game against India on the 16th.
Most of SKN's players are unattached or play in the weak domestic league. A few do play overseas with the most noteworthy being current Vancouver Whitecaps striker Atiba Harris. Harris is known for his time at Chivas USA, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake and for being Micah Richards' cousin.
SKN does not have the talent to repeat their underdog run in 2006 qualifying, but they should have enough to place second.
Saint Lucia
FIFA rank: 183
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 9-1 on aggregate to Guatemala in round two
Saint Lucia can count itself lucky to make the second round of qualifying. One of the five first round winners, the side lost the first leg 4-2 to Aruba and seemed to be headed out. They rebounded and won 4-2 in the second leg, and then scraped through in penalties to advance.
In the 2010 Caribbean Cup, Saint Lucia finished bottom of its group in the first round of preliminary qualifying with its lone point being a draw against the Netherlands Antilles. They played tight games against the two advancing teams Guyana and Suriname, falling by one goal to each. Saint Lucia is the second-lowest ranked team in CONCACAF next to Bermuda who is ranked two spots lower.
The country's domestic league was created in 2005 and is called the Saint Lucia Gold Division. All but a few players on the national team play in the domestic league. The few that do not play in Trinidad and Tobago. One player that has appeared twice for Saint Lucia provides serious intrigue.
Zaine Pierre plays for W Connection in Trinidad and Tobago and has attracted interest from English Premier League teams. A young attacking midfielder, Pierre is only 17. Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester City and Stoke City have been linked in the past year as well as several clubs in Spain and Italy. Pierre's play in qualifying if he is called in is something to keep an eye on.
Saint Lucia does not have the talent to win games against these type of teams, its best hope is to try and keep games close and steal some points here and there.
Prediction
Canada will not stumble in this round and advance easily while SKN and Puerto Rico will battle it out for second with Saint Lucia bringing up the rear.
1. Canada
2. Saint Kitts and Nevis
3. Puerto Rico
4. Saint Lucia
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
CONCACAF Round 2: Group C Preview
Bahamas, Dominica, Nicaragua and Panama make up group C in one of the weaker groups in round two. The winner advances to group C in the third round and will join Mexico, Cuba and the winner of group D.
Bahamas
FIFA rank: 152
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round one on the away goals rule after finishing tied 3-3 on aggregate against the British Virgin Islands
The Bahamas moved up 45 spots in the FIFA rankings thanks to their 10-0 aggregate win over Turks and Caicos in the first round. Shows how much just two wins in FIFA competition mean when talking about teams ranked 150 or higher. The two wins were the third and fourth in history for Bahamas in World Cup qualifying with the other two coming in round one of 2002 qualification over Anguilla.
Like many of its Caribbean counterparts, the Bahamas does not have the infrastructure or the setup in place in order to succeed at football. Their domestic league only has seven teams and was won by Bears Football Club last season. Several of the players called into the national team either play for Bears, but the majority of squad members are unattached or play in colleges in the United States.
The most intriguing player in the side is Cameron Hepple. Hepple, 23, just recently signed with KF Tirana, the most successful club in the Albanian league. He played in college at Bowling Green and scored his first international goal in the first round of qualifying.
Striker Lesly St. Fleur is currently the leader in goals for CONCACAF qualifying after scoring five goals in the second leg in the first round. St. Fleur has also represented the national team in beach soccer in addition to the national team.
Bahamas are probably one of the youngest and one of the three worst teams in this round and any points they pick up in it will be a surprise.
Dominica
FIFA rank: 133
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round one 2-1 on aggregate to Barbados
There is very little known about Dominica, most of their players do not play for club teams. However, the team's ranking and results are better than what one would think. Recently, the side made it two the second qualifying stage for the 2010 Caribbean Cup where they obtained one point from their three group games, a scoreless draw against Antigua and Barbuda.
The domestic league in Dominica features eight teams and has been won the last three years by Centre Bath Estate. Kurlson Benjamin stars for this side and the leading international scorer for Dominica with 12 career goals. Five of these goals came in a 10-0 pasting of the British Virgin Islands in the first qualifying stage for the Caribbean Cup.
The side is perhaps best known for being matched up with Mexico in round two of 2006 qualifying after beating Bahamas 4-2 on aggregate in round one. The Mexicans tore through them in both legs eventually ending with an 18-0 aggregate win.
Not much is expected from Dominica in this round and they will consider second place in this group a success.
Nicaragua
FIFA rank: 177
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round one 3-0 on aggregate to Netherlands Antilles
Generally thought of as the second worst team in Central America after Belize, that is exactly what the Nicaraguans are. Of the seven Central American nations, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama are far more decorated football nations than Nicaragua.
In 2009 Nicaragua qualified for its first ever Gold Cup by defeating Guatemala 2-0 in a playoff. Nicaragua has never won a game by more than two goals in its history, they have won eight games by two goals.
Nicaragua lost all three of its games in the 2009 Gold Cup, falling 2-0 to Mexico, 2-0 to Guadeloupe and 4-0 to Panama. Grenada was the only other side that did not score a goal in the tournament.
Almost every member of the national team plays domestically in Nicaragua. Nine teams make up the Nicaraguan Primera División and it was won by Real Estelí last season.
Nicaragua has almost no hope to advance, but they do have a decent chance at finishing second in this group. However, they are more likely to finish last than second.
Panama
FIFA rank: 65
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round two 3-2 on aggregate to El Salvador
Panama has a case to complain about to FIFA and CONCACAF. When the teams were seeded for qualifying by the March FIFA rankings, Panama was seventh and just missed out on a bye to round three. One could argue that the teams should not have been seeded till after the Gold Cup, where Panama made the semifinals. Panama is now the sixth best ranked team in CONCACAF while Cuba is ninth.
The Gold Cup was a huge success for Panama, they won their group which included a stunning upset of the USA. They fell to the Americans 1-0 in the semifinals, but the tournament will give them belief that this cycle could be the one where Panama qualifies for the World Cup for the first time.
Leading the way for Panama is captain Felipe Baloy. This big, physical defender overpowered many strikers in the Gold Cup and was selected to the all-tournament team. Goalkeeper Jaime Penedo provides capable hands in the net and organized a stingy defense in the Gold Cup. Up front, Blas Perez and leading goalscorer Luis Tejada will be entering their final qualification cycle, and want nothing more than to qualify. Also at forward, young Luis Renteria impressed many with his performances this summer and he will be counted on to be a big player throughout qualifying.
Panama will be confident and ready when play starts and should easily cruise through this stage with maximum points.
Prediction
This group has the biggest drop in quality from the top seeded team downward. Panama far outclasses the other group members and should not drop any points in this round.
1. Panama
2. Dominica
3. Nicaragua
4. Bahamas
Bahamas
FIFA rank: 152
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round one on the away goals rule after finishing tied 3-3 on aggregate against the British Virgin Islands
The Bahamas moved up 45 spots in the FIFA rankings thanks to their 10-0 aggregate win over Turks and Caicos in the first round. Shows how much just two wins in FIFA competition mean when talking about teams ranked 150 or higher. The two wins were the third and fourth in history for Bahamas in World Cup qualifying with the other two coming in round one of 2002 qualification over Anguilla.
Like many of its Caribbean counterparts, the Bahamas does not have the infrastructure or the setup in place in order to succeed at football. Their domestic league only has seven teams and was won by Bears Football Club last season. Several of the players called into the national team either play for Bears, but the majority of squad members are unattached or play in colleges in the United States.
The most intriguing player in the side is Cameron Hepple. Hepple, 23, just recently signed with KF Tirana, the most successful club in the Albanian league. He played in college at Bowling Green and scored his first international goal in the first round of qualifying.
Striker Lesly St. Fleur is currently the leader in goals for CONCACAF qualifying after scoring five goals in the second leg in the first round. St. Fleur has also represented the national team in beach soccer in addition to the national team.
Bahamas are probably one of the youngest and one of the three worst teams in this round and any points they pick up in it will be a surprise.
Dominica
FIFA rank: 133
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round one 2-1 on aggregate to Barbados
There is very little known about Dominica, most of their players do not play for club teams. However, the team's ranking and results are better than what one would think. Recently, the side made it two the second qualifying stage for the 2010 Caribbean Cup where they obtained one point from their three group games, a scoreless draw against Antigua and Barbuda.
The domestic league in Dominica features eight teams and has been won the last three years by Centre Bath Estate. Kurlson Benjamin stars for this side and the leading international scorer for Dominica with 12 career goals. Five of these goals came in a 10-0 pasting of the British Virgin Islands in the first qualifying stage for the Caribbean Cup.
The side is perhaps best known for being matched up with Mexico in round two of 2006 qualifying after beating Bahamas 4-2 on aggregate in round one. The Mexicans tore through them in both legs eventually ending with an 18-0 aggregate win.
Not much is expected from Dominica in this round and they will consider second place in this group a success.
Nicaragua
FIFA rank: 177
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round one 3-0 on aggregate to Netherlands Antilles
Generally thought of as the second worst team in Central America after Belize, that is exactly what the Nicaraguans are. Of the seven Central American nations, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama are far more decorated football nations than Nicaragua.
In 2009 Nicaragua qualified for its first ever Gold Cup by defeating Guatemala 2-0 in a playoff. Nicaragua has never won a game by more than two goals in its history, they have won eight games by two goals.
Nicaragua lost all three of its games in the 2009 Gold Cup, falling 2-0 to Mexico, 2-0 to Guadeloupe and 4-0 to Panama. Grenada was the only other side that did not score a goal in the tournament.
Almost every member of the national team plays domestically in Nicaragua. Nine teams make up the Nicaraguan Primera División and it was won by Real Estelí last season.
Nicaragua has almost no hope to advance, but they do have a decent chance at finishing second in this group. However, they are more likely to finish last than second.
Panama
FIFA rank: 65
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round two 3-2 on aggregate to El Salvador
Panama has a case to complain about to FIFA and CONCACAF. When the teams were seeded for qualifying by the March FIFA rankings, Panama was seventh and just missed out on a bye to round three. One could argue that the teams should not have been seeded till after the Gold Cup, where Panama made the semifinals. Panama is now the sixth best ranked team in CONCACAF while Cuba is ninth.
The Gold Cup was a huge success for Panama, they won their group which included a stunning upset of the USA. They fell to the Americans 1-0 in the semifinals, but the tournament will give them belief that this cycle could be the one where Panama qualifies for the World Cup for the first time.
Leading the way for Panama is captain Felipe Baloy. This big, physical defender overpowered many strikers in the Gold Cup and was selected to the all-tournament team. Goalkeeper Jaime Penedo provides capable hands in the net and organized a stingy defense in the Gold Cup. Up front, Blas Perez and leading goalscorer Luis Tejada will be entering their final qualification cycle, and want nothing more than to qualify. Also at forward, young Luis Renteria impressed many with his performances this summer and he will be counted on to be a big player throughout qualifying.
Panama will be confident and ready when play starts and should easily cruise through this stage with maximum points.
Prediction
This group has the biggest drop in quality from the top seeded team downward. Panama far outclasses the other group members and should not drop any points in this round.
1. Panama
2. Dominica
3. Nicaragua
4. Bahamas
Sunday, August 7, 2011
El Salvador 2 Venezuela 1
El Salvador prepared for their upcoming qualifiers in Group A by taking on Venezuela at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. Since Sunday was not an international FIFA date, clubs were not required to release their players to the national sides. Both teams played mostly experimental lineups, giving starts to young players.
The game was a suitable test for El Salvador, playing a Venezuela team that made the semifinals of the Copa America last month. The Venezuelans would take the lead in the 29h minute through Fernando Aristeguieta. A late stirring comeback from the Salvadorans allowed them to squeak out with a win and a great result. An own goal by Josef Martinez off a free kick tied the score in the 83rd before Edwin Sanchez scored the game-winner in added time. Highlights below
The game was a suitable test for El Salvador, playing a Venezuela team that made the semifinals of the Copa America last month. The Venezuelans would take the lead in the 29h minute through Fernando Aristeguieta. A late stirring comeback from the Salvadorans allowed them to squeak out with a win and a great result. An own goal by Josef Martinez off a free kick tied the score in the 83rd before Edwin Sanchez scored the game-winner in added time. Highlights below
Saturday, August 6, 2011
CONCACAF Round 2: Group B Preview
We continue our look at CONCACAF's second round with the wide open Group B. The winner of this group featuring Barbados,Bermuda,Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago will move on to round three and be placed in group B with Mexico, Costa Rica and the winner of group A, which we examined a couple days ago.
Barbados
FIFA rank: 145
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round two on a 9-0 aggregate loss to the USA
Barbados recently achieved their highest ever FIFA ranking of 92nd in October of 2009. However, since then they have been on the decline, failing to advance out of the first qualifying round of the 2010 Caribbean Cup due to draws against Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Historically, Barbados has never qualified for a major tournament. Their best result came in the 2002 qualifying cycle where they reached the semifinal group stage by defeating Cuba on penalties. In group play the side defeated eventual World Cup finalist Costa Rica at home 2-1.
Like many other Caribbean nations with British ties, Barbados tries to recruit English players that may have had a parent or relative from the country. Notably players that appear frequently are Wigan's Emmerson Boyce and former Millwall, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace man Paul Ifill who currently plays for Wellington Phoenix.
It will be interesting to see if Barbados attempts to bring in some new members of the squad with small ties to the country, but overall the team as a whole lacks the offensive firepower and defensive organization necessary to win the group.
Bermuda
FIFA rank: 185
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 3-2 on aggregate by Trinidad and Tobago in the second round
Bermuda's FIFA ranking is the lowest in its history at the moment. They did not enter the 2010 Caribbean Cup and have not played an international match since the 2008 edition of the same tournament.
The country had a successful run in 2010 qualifying, defeating Cayman Islands in the first round and winning the first leg in Trinidad and Tobago in the second round. However, they could not make their advantage hold at home and were bounced from the competition.
The side's most noteworthy player is Carolina Railhawk Khano Smith. Smith, who played for MLS' New England Revolution and New York Red Bulls, has appeared 33 times for Bermuda and scored 10 goals. John Barry Nusum, a striker for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the lower divisions of the US soccer pyramid, has 29 goals in 35 appearances for his country, an impressive strike rate.
Not playing any international games in years poses a significant problem to Bermuda, who will find it tough to pick up points in this group.
Guyana
FIFA rank: 114
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 3-1 on aggregate by Guyana in the second round
Guyana waltzed through the first stage of qualifying for the 2010 Caribbean cup winning all three of its group games against Suriname, Saint Lucia and Netherlands Antilles. A draw with Haiti and a win over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was enough to advance in stage two and reach the eight-team tournament. They finished bottom of their group with the side's lone point coming against Gold Cup final participant Guadeloupe.
Upset in the second round of 2010 qualifying by their neighbor Suriname, the side will look to pull the shock this time and advance out of this winnable group. In October of 2010 Guyana achieved their highest FIFA rank ever of 86th.
Most of Guyana's team members play domestically or in close by Trinidad and Tobago, their main competition for winning this group. The nation also has a few of its members playing in the lower leagues of America.
Although they have never qualified for a Gold Cup, Guyana has come close to making the last few editions. They were seeded as the second best team in pot two of the draw for round two, so on paper they are one of the more likely teams to pull an upset and move onward.
Trinidad and Tobago
FIFA rank: 88
2010 qualifying result: Sixth in the final round of qualifying with six points from 10 matches.
The 2010 cycle was a rebuilding one for the Soca Warriors after their miracle run to the 2006 finals where they were able to take a point off Sweden and play England tightly. They managed to stumble their way through to the hex, but were outclassed and finished bottom of the six teams.
Gone are the recognizable Dwight Yorke, Shaka Hislop, Stern John and Russell Latapy from the side. Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones gives the team some starpower, but recently T&T has fallen on tough times.
They have failed to qualify for two Gold Cup tournaments in a row, a tremendous disappointment from one of historically better nations in the Caribbean. In the 2010 Caribbean Cup group stage they finished third thanks to defeats to Cuba and Grenada, which saw them miss out on Gold Cup qualification. They struggled to score in the tournament, only scoring once in three games, a lone goal against lowly host nation Martinique.
Head coach Otto Pfister, who has reached the 2006 World Cup with Togo and the 1998 finals with Saudi Arabia, needs to solve the sides recent lull in form. A friendly on Aug. 21st against India will be their preparation for this round. They are the favorites to advance, but will face a stern test from their opposition.
Prediction
This will be one of the closer groups when all is said and done, any side has the potential to beat each other in this group, but Trinidad and Tobago will scrape their way to round three in a tight battle with Guyana.
1. T&T
2. Guyana
3. Barbados
4. Bermuda
Barbados
FIFA rank: 145
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated in round two on a 9-0 aggregate loss to the USA
Barbados recently achieved their highest ever FIFA ranking of 92nd in October of 2009. However, since then they have been on the decline, failing to advance out of the first qualifying round of the 2010 Caribbean Cup due to draws against Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Historically, Barbados has never qualified for a major tournament. Their best result came in the 2002 qualifying cycle where they reached the semifinal group stage by defeating Cuba on penalties. In group play the side defeated eventual World Cup finalist Costa Rica at home 2-1.
Like many other Caribbean nations with British ties, Barbados tries to recruit English players that may have had a parent or relative from the country. Notably players that appear frequently are Wigan's Emmerson Boyce and former Millwall, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace man Paul Ifill who currently plays for Wellington Phoenix.
It will be interesting to see if Barbados attempts to bring in some new members of the squad with small ties to the country, but overall the team as a whole lacks the offensive firepower and defensive organization necessary to win the group.
Bermuda
FIFA rank: 185
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 3-2 on aggregate by Trinidad and Tobago in the second round
Bermuda's FIFA ranking is the lowest in its history at the moment. They did not enter the 2010 Caribbean Cup and have not played an international match since the 2008 edition of the same tournament.
The country had a successful run in 2010 qualifying, defeating Cayman Islands in the first round and winning the first leg in Trinidad and Tobago in the second round. However, they could not make their advantage hold at home and were bounced from the competition.
The side's most noteworthy player is Carolina Railhawk Khano Smith. Smith, who played for MLS' New England Revolution and New York Red Bulls, has appeared 33 times for Bermuda and scored 10 goals. John Barry Nusum, a striker for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the lower divisions of the US soccer pyramid, has 29 goals in 35 appearances for his country, an impressive strike rate.
Not playing any international games in years poses a significant problem to Bermuda, who will find it tough to pick up points in this group.
Guyana
FIFA rank: 114
2010 qualifying result: Eliminated 3-1 on aggregate by Guyana in the second round
Guyana waltzed through the first stage of qualifying for the 2010 Caribbean cup winning all three of its group games against Suriname, Saint Lucia and Netherlands Antilles. A draw with Haiti and a win over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was enough to advance in stage two and reach the eight-team tournament. They finished bottom of their group with the side's lone point coming against Gold Cup final participant Guadeloupe.
Upset in the second round of 2010 qualifying by their neighbor Suriname, the side will look to pull the shock this time and advance out of this winnable group. In October of 2010 Guyana achieved their highest FIFA rank ever of 86th.
Most of Guyana's team members play domestically or in close by Trinidad and Tobago, their main competition for winning this group. The nation also has a few of its members playing in the lower leagues of America.
Although they have never qualified for a Gold Cup, Guyana has come close to making the last few editions. They were seeded as the second best team in pot two of the draw for round two, so on paper they are one of the more likely teams to pull an upset and move onward.
Trinidad and Tobago
FIFA rank: 88
2010 qualifying result: Sixth in the final round of qualifying with six points from 10 matches.
The 2010 cycle was a rebuilding one for the Soca Warriors after their miracle run to the 2006 finals where they were able to take a point off Sweden and play England tightly. They managed to stumble their way through to the hex, but were outclassed and finished bottom of the six teams.
Gone are the recognizable Dwight Yorke, Shaka Hislop, Stern John and Russell Latapy from the side. Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones gives the team some starpower, but recently T&T has fallen on tough times.
They have failed to qualify for two Gold Cup tournaments in a row, a tremendous disappointment from one of historically better nations in the Caribbean. In the 2010 Caribbean Cup group stage they finished third thanks to defeats to Cuba and Grenada, which saw them miss out on Gold Cup qualification. They struggled to score in the tournament, only scoring once in three games, a lone goal against lowly host nation Martinique.
Head coach Otto Pfister, who has reached the 2006 World Cup with Togo and the 1998 finals with Saudi Arabia, needs to solve the sides recent lull in form. A friendly on Aug. 21st against India will be their preparation for this round. They are the favorites to advance, but will face a stern test from their opposition.
Prediction
This will be one of the closer groups when all is said and done, any side has the potential to beat each other in this group, but Trinidad and Tobago will scrape their way to round three in a tight battle with Guyana.
1. T&T
2. Guyana
3. Barbados
4. Bermuda
Thursday, August 4, 2011
CONCACAF Round 2: Group A Preview
With CONCACAF's qualifying process resuming on Sept. 2nd, we will take at each of the six groups individually, and predict the winners in the next few days. Today, we look at group A, consisting of Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Suriname. The winner of this group will advance to the next round and be placed in group B with Mexico, Costa Rica and the winner of group B in this round. Here is a look at the teams
Cayman Islands
FIFA rank: 172
2010 qualifying result: Lost in round one of qualifying 4-2 on aggregate to Bermuda
One of many small British overseas territories, the Cayman Islands have trouble fielding competitive teams due to the lack of infrastructure and a weak domestic league. In the past, they have been able to convince players with British passports to play for the national team, but currently their call ups have all been from the domestic league.
The Cayman Islands Premier league was won by Elite Sports Club last season. However, most of the national team's most recent squad came from George Town Sports Club, who finished second last season.
Their most recent tournament was the 2010 Caribbean Cup, a qualifying tournament for the Gold Cup. The team failed to advance out of qualifying stage one, finishing second in their group with four points by drawing Saint-Martin, beating Anguilla 4-1 and falling to group winner Puerto Rico 2-0.
Not expected to threaten any of the bigger teams, it will be a huge miracle if the Cayman Islands finish second in this group.
Dominican Republic
FIFA rank: 132
2010 qualifying result: Lost in round one of qualifying 1-0 on aggregate to Puerto Rico
The Dominicans moved up 40 spots in the most recent FIFA world ranking due to their two wins last month over Anguilla in round one of qualifying. Their star player, Jonathan Faña, scored once in each leg.
Faña currently plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders in the North American Soccer League and has seven goals in 25 appearances for the club.
Before qualifying, the team participated in the 2010 Caribbean Cup where they were eliminated in the first qualifying stage. Despite beating the British Virgin Islands 17-0, they fell to group winners Dominica 1-0.
That tournament also saw the debut of University of Maryland midfielder Gonzalo Frechilla, who scored in the win against the BVI.
Recently, there has been an improvement in infrastructure in the Dominican Republic. This cycle the nation was able to host its qualifying leg after being forced to play their leg in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010 qualifying.
An improved national side from last cycle, the team will not contend for the top spot, but may be able to pick up some points and spring a surprise on their best day.
El Salvador
FIFA rank: 78
2010 qualifying result: Finished fifth in fourth and final round of qualifying with six points from 10 matches
The surprise of last cycle, El Salvador made the final round, or "hex", with a big upset of Panama in the second round to advance to the first group stage in the third round.
Blessed with an easy group, the Salvadorians finished second to Costa Rica and moved onto the hex. Although they finished fifth, they had several great moments, the biggest being beating Mexico 2-1 at home.
They also tied the United States 2-2 at home and took the lead in the US before succumbing to a 2-1 loss and beat Costa Rica.
One of the few teams in this stage that have qualified for a World Cup (in 1970 and 1982), El Salvador is coached by Rubén Israel. In the 2011 Gold Cup, the team qualified for the quarterfinals where they were just minutes from upsetting Panama before conceding a goal in the 90th minute and losing in penalty kicks.
After starting the past decade poorly, the past few years have seen El Salvador as one of the rising nations in CONCACAF. Young players such as Rodolfo Zelaya, who currently plays in Russia and scored four goals in the Gold Cup, are a big reason for this improvement. Other important players include Eliseo Quintanilla, Arturo Alvarez, Steve Purdy and Jaime Alas.
El Salvador is the overwhelming favorite to advance out of this group, and it will be a shock if they fail to do so.
Suriname
FIFA rank: 110
2010 qualifying result: Finished fourth in group in third round of qualifying with two points from six matches
Last cycle, Suriname overachieved and reached the third round and first group stage of qualifying. After dispatching Montserrat easily in the first round, they upset their neighbor Guyana 3-1 on aggregate in the second.
Placed in a group with Costa Rica, El Salvador and Haiti, Suriname scored four goals and let in 19 with their lone two points coming in two draws against Haiti.
Suriname has actually produced many great players, unfortunately they do not ending up playing for the nation. Rather, the Dutch colony loses them to the Netherlands. Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were all born in Suriname, but ended up playing for the Oranje. Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Patrick Kluivert all are other players that were born in the Netherlands and had the option to play for Suriname, but did not. That is quite an impressive list of talent for such a nation that is not thought of often in the world of football.
The national team competed in the 2010 Caribbean Cup and advanced to qualifying stage two after defeating the Netherlands Antilles (now Curacao) and Saint Lucia in stage one. In stage two, they failed to advance, finishing third with four points in their group behind Cuba and Antigua and Barbuda who each had five.
Most of Suriname's squad play in their domestic league with the exception of Touvarno Pinas, who plays for Almere City FC in the Dutch Second Division. If any team can knock of the favored Salvadorians it will be Suriname, who have proven before they can punch above their weight. However, there is most likely too significant of a talent gap between the sides.
Prediction
El Salvador is far and away the best team in this group and will have no problem advancing onward.
1. El Salvador
2. Suriname
3. Dominican Republic
4. Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
FIFA rank: 172
2010 qualifying result: Lost in round one of qualifying 4-2 on aggregate to Bermuda
One of many small British overseas territories, the Cayman Islands have trouble fielding competitive teams due to the lack of infrastructure and a weak domestic league. In the past, they have been able to convince players with British passports to play for the national team, but currently their call ups have all been from the domestic league.
The Cayman Islands Premier league was won by Elite Sports Club last season. However, most of the national team's most recent squad came from George Town Sports Club, who finished second last season.
Their most recent tournament was the 2010 Caribbean Cup, a qualifying tournament for the Gold Cup. The team failed to advance out of qualifying stage one, finishing second in their group with four points by drawing Saint-Martin, beating Anguilla 4-1 and falling to group winner Puerto Rico 2-0.
Not expected to threaten any of the bigger teams, it will be a huge miracle if the Cayman Islands finish second in this group.
Dominican Republic
FIFA rank: 132
2010 qualifying result: Lost in round one of qualifying 1-0 on aggregate to Puerto Rico
The Dominicans moved up 40 spots in the most recent FIFA world ranking due to their two wins last month over Anguilla in round one of qualifying. Their star player, Jonathan Faña, scored once in each leg.
Faña currently plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders in the North American Soccer League and has seven goals in 25 appearances for the club.
Before qualifying, the team participated in the 2010 Caribbean Cup where they were eliminated in the first qualifying stage. Despite beating the British Virgin Islands 17-0, they fell to group winners Dominica 1-0.
That tournament also saw the debut of University of Maryland midfielder Gonzalo Frechilla, who scored in the win against the BVI.
Recently, there has been an improvement in infrastructure in the Dominican Republic. This cycle the nation was able to host its qualifying leg after being forced to play their leg in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010 qualifying.
An improved national side from last cycle, the team will not contend for the top spot, but may be able to pick up some points and spring a surprise on their best day.
El Salvador
FIFA rank: 78
2010 qualifying result: Finished fifth in fourth and final round of qualifying with six points from 10 matches
The surprise of last cycle, El Salvador made the final round, or "hex", with a big upset of Panama in the second round to advance to the first group stage in the third round.
Blessed with an easy group, the Salvadorians finished second to Costa Rica and moved onto the hex. Although they finished fifth, they had several great moments, the biggest being beating Mexico 2-1 at home.
They also tied the United States 2-2 at home and took the lead in the US before succumbing to a 2-1 loss and beat Costa Rica.
One of the few teams in this stage that have qualified for a World Cup (in 1970 and 1982), El Salvador is coached by Rubén Israel. In the 2011 Gold Cup, the team qualified for the quarterfinals where they were just minutes from upsetting Panama before conceding a goal in the 90th minute and losing in penalty kicks.
After starting the past decade poorly, the past few years have seen El Salvador as one of the rising nations in CONCACAF. Young players such as Rodolfo Zelaya, who currently plays in Russia and scored four goals in the Gold Cup, are a big reason for this improvement. Other important players include Eliseo Quintanilla, Arturo Alvarez, Steve Purdy and Jaime Alas.
El Salvador is the overwhelming favorite to advance out of this group, and it will be a shock if they fail to do so.
Suriname
FIFA rank: 110
2010 qualifying result: Finished fourth in group in third round of qualifying with two points from six matches
Last cycle, Suriname overachieved and reached the third round and first group stage of qualifying. After dispatching Montserrat easily in the first round, they upset their neighbor Guyana 3-1 on aggregate in the second.
Placed in a group with Costa Rica, El Salvador and Haiti, Suriname scored four goals and let in 19 with their lone two points coming in two draws against Haiti.
Suriname has actually produced many great players, unfortunately they do not ending up playing for the nation. Rather, the Dutch colony loses them to the Netherlands. Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were all born in Suriname, but ended up playing for the Oranje. Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Patrick Kluivert all are other players that were born in the Netherlands and had the option to play for Suriname, but did not. That is quite an impressive list of talent for such a nation that is not thought of often in the world of football.
The national team competed in the 2010 Caribbean Cup and advanced to qualifying stage two after defeating the Netherlands Antilles (now Curacao) and Saint Lucia in stage one. In stage two, they failed to advance, finishing third with four points in their group behind Cuba and Antigua and Barbuda who each had five.
Most of Suriname's squad play in their domestic league with the exception of Touvarno Pinas, who plays for Almere City FC in the Dutch Second Division. If any team can knock of the favored Salvadorians it will be Suriname, who have proven before they can punch above their weight. However, there is most likely too significant of a talent gap between the sides.
Prediction
El Salvador is far and away the best team in this group and will have no problem advancing onward.
1. El Salvador
2. Suriname
3. Dominican Republic
4. Cayman Islands
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
CONCACAF First Round Qualifying Results
These are the results for the first round of CONCACAF qualifying, which took place during June and July. The 10 worst ranked teams in the region took part in this round, with the winners joining the teams ranked seventh through 25th in the second round. Here are the aggregate results
Belize 8
Montserrat 3
This tie was the most intriguing of the five, but for reasons not on the field. The first leg, held in Trinidad and Tobago due to their being no facility capable of hosting in Montserrat finished 5-2 to Belize. Deon McCaulay put the visitors ahead in the 24th minute, scoring the first of three for him in the game. Jaylee Hodgson scored both goals for Montserrat, an equalizer in the 44th minute and a late consolation after four unanswered second half goals from Belize (highlights).
Two days before the scheduled second leg, FIFA suspended Belize for severe government interference in football. If the Belize federation did not resolve the conflict by July 10th, Monsterrat would have advanced, but on July 7th FIFA reinstated the federation and the second leg was played July 17th in Honduras.
Belize secured their passage to the next round with a comfortable 3-1 victory. Belize took a first half lead only for Hodgson to equalize in the second half, but Belize answered with two goals in three minutes to complete the scoring (highlights).
Bahamas 10
Turks and Caicos Islands 0
Bahamas had a real comfortable time in their match up, winning easily in both legs. In the away leg, they won 4-0 with two goals from Nesley Jean leading the way (highlights). The second leg saw Bahamas run rampant with a 6-0 win, including five goals from Lesly St. Fleur (highlights).
Dominican Republic 6
Anguilla 0
The Dominicans also had no problem with their opposition, advancing with ease. Both legs were held in the Dominican Republic, due to Anguilla not having a stadium up to international standards. The first leg was a 2-0 victory for the DR, with goals from Domingo Peralta and Puerto Rico Islander's striker Jonathan Faña (highlights). The second leg was a 4-0 triumph for the Dominicans, with Inoel Navarro on target twice (highlights). For the Dominicans, they improve on their qualifying progress from the 2010 cycle, where they fell in the first round to Puerto Rico.
U.S. Virgin Islands 4
British Virgin Islands 1
In this derby battle between the chaste islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands picked up their first two wins in World Cup qualifying history to advance to the second round. Alderman Lesmond and Reid Klopp were the scorers in the 2-0 home win in the first leg. Dwayne Thomas clinched the tie with a first minute goal in the second leg. Trevor Peters scored the lone goal in the tie for the British Virgin Islands while Klopp secured a 2-1 leg victory for the USVI in the 93rd minute. Sadly there are no highlights available from either leg to my knowledge.
Saint Lucia 6
Aruba 6
(Saint Lucia advances on PKs 5-4)
This tie brought a bunch of drama and goals, as Aruba almost pulled off the upset. In the first leg, Aruba picked up a 4-2 win, with goals from Frederick Gomez and David Abdul breaking a late 2-2 tie. Saint Lucia fought back in the second leg thanks to a hat-trick from Jamal Joseph and a 73rd minute shot from Kurt Frederick appeared to put the side into the second round. However, Gomez made the score 4-2 just two minutes later and that's how the tie would stay for the end of normal time. Extra time could not separate the sides as well, forcing the two teams to go to penalty kicks. Neither side would miss until the fifth shooter for Aruba, Jelano Cruden, failed to convert, sending his side crashing out. No highlights could be found for this match up as well
Coming up in the next few weeks, we will take an in depth look at the groups for the second round of CONCACAF qualifying and the third round of AFC qualifying, both of which begin on Sept. 2.
Belize 8
Montserrat 3
This tie was the most intriguing of the five, but for reasons not on the field. The first leg, held in Trinidad and Tobago due to their being no facility capable of hosting in Montserrat finished 5-2 to Belize. Deon McCaulay put the visitors ahead in the 24th minute, scoring the first of three for him in the game. Jaylee Hodgson scored both goals for Montserrat, an equalizer in the 44th minute and a late consolation after four unanswered second half goals from Belize (highlights).
Two days before the scheduled second leg, FIFA suspended Belize for severe government interference in football. If the Belize federation did not resolve the conflict by July 10th, Monsterrat would have advanced, but on July 7th FIFA reinstated the federation and the second leg was played July 17th in Honduras.
Belize secured their passage to the next round with a comfortable 3-1 victory. Belize took a first half lead only for Hodgson to equalize in the second half, but Belize answered with two goals in three minutes to complete the scoring (highlights).
Bahamas 10
Turks and Caicos Islands 0
Bahamas had a real comfortable time in their match up, winning easily in both legs. In the away leg, they won 4-0 with two goals from Nesley Jean leading the way (highlights). The second leg saw Bahamas run rampant with a 6-0 win, including five goals from Lesly St. Fleur (highlights).
Dominican Republic 6
Anguilla 0
The Dominicans also had no problem with their opposition, advancing with ease. Both legs were held in the Dominican Republic, due to Anguilla not having a stadium up to international standards. The first leg was a 2-0 victory for the DR, with goals from Domingo Peralta and Puerto Rico Islander's striker Jonathan Faña (highlights). The second leg was a 4-0 triumph for the Dominicans, with Inoel Navarro on target twice (highlights). For the Dominicans, they improve on their qualifying progress from the 2010 cycle, where they fell in the first round to Puerto Rico.
U.S. Virgin Islands 4
British Virgin Islands 1
In this derby battle between the chaste islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands picked up their first two wins in World Cup qualifying history to advance to the second round. Alderman Lesmond and Reid Klopp were the scorers in the 2-0 home win in the first leg. Dwayne Thomas clinched the tie with a first minute goal in the second leg. Trevor Peters scored the lone goal in the tie for the British Virgin Islands while Klopp secured a 2-1 leg victory for the USVI in the 93rd minute. Sadly there are no highlights available from either leg to my knowledge.
Saint Lucia 6
Aruba 6
(Saint Lucia advances on PKs 5-4)
This tie brought a bunch of drama and goals, as Aruba almost pulled off the upset. In the first leg, Aruba picked up a 4-2 win, with goals from Frederick Gomez and David Abdul breaking a late 2-2 tie. Saint Lucia fought back in the second leg thanks to a hat-trick from Jamal Joseph and a 73rd minute shot from Kurt Frederick appeared to put the side into the second round. However, Gomez made the score 4-2 just two minutes later and that's how the tie would stay for the end of normal time. Extra time could not separate the sides as well, forcing the two teams to go to penalty kicks. Neither side would miss until the fifth shooter for Aruba, Jelano Cruden, failed to convert, sending his side crashing out. No highlights could be found for this match up as well
Coming up in the next few weeks, we will take an in depth look at the groups for the second round of CONCACAF qualifying and the third round of AFC qualifying, both of which begin on Sept. 2.
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