July 12th to 25th, 2021 (World Cup Qualifiers [CONCACAF])

A Chapter by Steve Clark

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2021.

July 12th to 25th, 2021 (World Cup Qualifiers [CONCACAF])

World Cup Qualifiers

The fifth to eighth Match Days in World Cup Qualifiers in the CONCACAF group stages took place this fortnight.

In Group A, Curaçao made changes, going with all-out attack in their hosting match against El Salvador. The changes paid off as Juninho Bacuna, moved into a more attacking position and scored with relative ease as a result. However, that choice left their midfield vulnerable, and El Salvador capitalised with Enrico Hernández equalising soon after. Anthony van den Hurk came off the bench late for Curaçao and gifted his teammates with choice passes. Unfortunately, they were unable to score that final blow, and the match ended 1-1.

Guyana, looking for their first win of the Qualifiers, went with an altered line up to the March Qualifiers. Instead, it was Cecilio Waterman and Panama who had other ideas, with the striker easing home the winner in the 38th minute with his right foot. From there, Panama held firm in defence, not allowing Guyana any easy advances.

Wayward shots kept Mexico away from winning their home game against Puerto Rico. The visitors rarely entered their attacking third as Mexico dominated, only to not score at all.

Mexico brought back Raúl Jiménez five days later for the match against El Salvador, and he had an immediate impact, heading home a goal in the 28th minute. Hirving Lozano then backed it up minutes later with a second. Mexico were denied twice by both posts, though a solid home win gave them every opportunity to catch Panama.

Puerto Rico wanted to gain points on Panama as well as they hosted the top team. Both sides had chances before José Fajardo stole the ball off a poor Puerto Rican defensive decision, and he made the most of it. Puerto Rico failed to equalise, thus giving Panama their second one-nil away win in a row.

Rangelo Janga helped lift Curaçao into third place with a 1-0 victory over Guyana. The visitors hit the woodwork twice in the same piece of play. However, Janga’s goal right after the break ensured the hosts had a solid victory and still with a chance to qualify for the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Guyana hosted El Salvador in the hope of either team gaining their first win of the Qualifiers. However, the match was played in the middle of the park, with only a shot at goal each well after halftime. In the end, only a scoreless draw could be wrangled.

Panama kept their buffer of four points against Mexico as the battle for first place ramped up. Having drawn in March, the two teams looked to have the better of the other as the match progressed. Mexico had the early chances, only to miss key shots. José Fajardo then scored just before the half hour, just as he had in the previous match. However, the Mexicans were not outdone, and Hirving Lozano fired home eleven minutes after the break. From there, though, neither side could breach the goalkeepers, and the match ended 1-1.

Puerto Rico turned their March three-nil loss to Curaçao around by firstly scoring against the hosts. Devin Vega powered home with his right foot, in amongst defenders. Curaçao fought back, hoping to keep third place and a slim hope of qualifying for the World Cup. Leandro Bacuna managed a header off a corner in the 74th minute, though their final efforts for a winner proved fruitless.

With three games left, Panama remains in the box seat to qualify. Mexico will hope for three wins to give them the best chance. Curaçao have an outside chance, but are unlikely to create enough chances to win all three matches.

	CONCACAF WCQ Gr A	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Panama	7	5	2	0	17	+7
2	Mexico	7	3	4	0	13	+7
3	Curaçao	7	2	4	1	10	+3
4	Puerto Rico	7	2	2	3	8	-2
5	Guyana	7	0	3	4	3	-6
6	El Salvador	7	0	3	4	3	-9

In Group D, Dairon Reyes came off the bench for Cuba to salvage a vital draw against Honduras, who started the fortnight below them on the table. Alexander López started the ball rolling for the hosts with a run onto a through ball. The Cuban goalkeeper came out too early, allowing López the easy push past him and easing the ball into an open goal. Reyes headed the equaliser with twelve minutes remaining, and placing plenty of pressure on the Honduran players to perform in their next match.

Manfred Ugalde, in his opening match for Costa Rica, found himself in hot water with two fouls and two yellow cards before 20 minutes was out. Costa Rica settled without their lone striker, instead using the midfielders as a unit advancing. This caused a handball in the penalty box, and Ariel Lassiter stepped up and pocketed the opening goal. Substitute Johan Venegas then polished off a win that placed Costa Rica in a prominent position in the group at the halfway stage.

St Kitts and Nevis kept Nicaragua to zero shots as the first half seemed like a dull match, before the hosts turned up the pressure for the second period. Romaine Sawyers’ goal came from that pressure, shooting first time as he ran between two defenders into the back of the net. From there, the pressure was too great, and St Kitts gained their second win.

Sawyers scored again for St Kitts and Nevis, after Anton Greaves opened the tale for Barbados in the 33rd minute. Sawyers’ goal straight after the break was lucky, only for Barbados to gather up control of the remainder of the match, scoring via midfielder and Player of the Match Akeem Hill. From there, the hosts held on and ensured they remained above St Kitts on the table.

Campbell returned for the suspended Ugalde against Honduras, and he scored the winning goal in the 59th minute, capitalising on poor defence to slot into the back of the net. In the first half, Costa Rican errors gave Honduras plenty of opportunities to score. How they did not is a surprise, ending the first half goalless. From there, Costa Rica gathered the lead and held firm in defence to grasp the full three points.

Cuba scored three times away to Nicaragua, via the likes of Arichel Hernández and a brace from Davide Incerti. It was a spiteful match, with plenty of yellow cards, only for Nicaragua to never get into the match. Cuba had the reins from beginning to end, and kept their second place in the group, placing a six-point buffer between them and Honduras.

Nicaragua flew to Costa Rica five days later and once again were dominated all over the park. However, only Randal Leal was able to score, earning the cheers of the crowd after some doubt in him remaining in the side. Costa Rica used the right flank mostly to attack, but it was their direct play that brought about the goal in the 49th minute.

Rigoberto Rivas scored for Honduras in their away game against Barbados in the 24th minute, as the hosts struggled to penetrate the steely Honduran defence. Barbados looked a shell of the team they have been in other matches, perhaps due to this being the third match in this international window. Honduras made the most of it, ensuring only their second win.

Like Barbados, Cuba also looked lacklustre in their away game against St Kitts and Nevis. Romaine Sawyers and Harry Panayiotou got the hosts off to the best start possible, with the former heading off a corner, and the second going on a solo effort two minutes later to double the lead. Sawyers and Panayiotou then combined to give the latter a brace right at the death, ensuring a solid performance with 3-0 up their sleeve.

Costa Rica is almost guaranteed a place in the Qatar World Cup, while Nicaragua is well and truly out of contention. It will be a tough race for the final three Match Days to see who will grab second spot.

	CONCACAF WCQ Gr D	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Costa Rica	7	6	1	0	19	+9
2	Cuba	7	4	1	2	13	+3
3	Honduras	7	2	4	1	10	+2
4	St Kitts and Nevis	7	3	0	4	9	+3
5	Barbados	7	2	1	4	7	-7
6	Nicaragua	7	0	1	6	1	-10

In Group C, the Americans brought into the fray Christian Pulisic to ensure they did not lose to the Dominican Republic in the way they had against Montserrat in March. This had an immediate effect, as Pulisic was an instigator in the lead up to Joshua Sargent’s goal in the sixth minute, before hitting the post himself in a later attempt. The Dominicans did not shoot at all in the first half, but slowly etched their way into the match in the second half. Hitting the post in an attempt, the Dominicans knew their chances would come when the match opened. Wilman Modesta found himself free in the 84th minute, and slotted home the equaliser, before the defence held firm in the final minutes to ground out a vital draw.

Montserrat against Trinidad and Tobago also ended one-all. Both sides scored in the first half, with Michel Poon-Angeron sneaking a goal along the ground thanks to poor defending. Kaleem Strawbridge-Simon then headed home the equaliser from a corner, scoring his second goal of the Qualifiers. The second half was mostly played in the middle of the park, with only minor chances for both sides. Both teams seemed content with the draw as they left the field.

Guatemala made several changes to wrestle back some form after a debacle March section of the Qualifiers. They faced the Bahamas players intent on lifting off the bottom of the table. However, Guatemala dominated the first half, with a grand team goal finished by midfielder Rodrigo Saravia. In the second half, however, Bahamas caught Guatemala’s defence napping, and Lesly St Fleur equalised. It only took a minute for Luis Martínez to restore Guatemala’s lead, and though they missed key chances for a third goal, the 2-1 scoreline was enough for Guatemala.

The USA needed a win against Trinidad and Tobago five days later to have any real hope of qualifying for Qatar. It looked that way at first when relentless pressure and shots brought about a handball in the box for the Americans. However, Sargent hit the crossbar. From there, Trinidad and Tobago scored via Ryan Telfer. Brenden Aaronson quickly equalised to keep the celebrations for the away fans in check, sliding along the ground the ball beyond the reach of the goalkeeper after he had taken out Sargent in a bizarre play, where most players in the box ended up on the ground in some form or another. Pulisic, in the second half, had three shots in quick succession, with his third hitting the crossbar. This pressure again was too great for Trinidad, and Ricardo Pepi pocketed home a tap-in goal, and assured the three points for the USA.

The Dominicans made one change in Modesta, the goal scorer in the previous match, starting on the bench after a minor injury. However, Bahamas gained their first win of the Qualifiers. St Fleur scored his third goal in six games, easing a header into the bottom right-hand corner. Defender Logan Russell backed it up in the second half as he joined the attack and powered with his left foot into the back of the net. The Dominicans never looked in the match; the Bahamans fully deserved the win.

James Comley and Jamie Allen both scored for Montserrat as they defeated Guatemala. The visitors never looked in the match after Comley scored in the tenth minute. He had a choice cross given to him, only needing to ease the header into the back of the net. Allen scored his third goal of the campaign, winning the ball deep in the attacking half and powering home with relative ease. From there, Montserrat held on for the win, and encroaching on first place in the group.

Five days later, Trinidad and Tobago maintained the edge on first place as Ryan Telfer scored twice to almost eliminate Guatemala for contention for Qatar. Both goals were headers from crosses, rising above his opponents and guiding the ball into the back of the net. The only setback is his yellow card, meaning he will miss the next match. Guatemala looked lacklustre, a mere shadow of their 2018 World Cup side.

The Dominican Republic earned a scoreless draw against Montserrat, bouncing back after the 5-0 drubbing in March. Both sides had chances in the first half, with more opportunities coming the way of the hosts in the second half. However, neither side really looked like scoring, and so the 0-0 scoreline ensued.

The Bahamans also held on against the Americans for a scoreless draw. Pulisic gained an elbow injury and was subbed at the break. The Bahamas had the better chances in the second half, only to not capitalise. The Americans possibly should have scored in the first but could not take full advantage. In the end, the draw places them in a precarious position with three matches left. Bahamas, meanwhile, lift off the bottom of the group.

	CONCACAF WCQ Gr C	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Trinidad and Tobago	7	4	2	1	14	+7
2	Montserrat	7	3	3	1	12	+4
3	USA	7	3	2	2	11	+3
4	Dominican Republic	7	1	4	2	7	-6
5	Bahamas	7	1	3	3	6	-3
6	Guatemala	7	2	0	5	6	-6

In Group B, Bermuda’s Willie Clemons came off the bench to gift Canada their first loss of the Qualifiers, and the hosts’ second win. Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half, but it was Bermuda who came out to play in the second half, allowing Clemons free when Bermuda won a tackle deep in their half. This time, Clemons made no mistake.

Jamaica also inflicted Haiti’s first loss with a twenty-minute display of attacking prowess. By the quarter-way mark, Jamaica had already netted three times. Daniel Johnson caught the Haitian goalkeeper napping and stole the ball from him before hitting the ball from one metre out. Bobby De Cordova-Reid powered out of the reach of the goalkeeper in the thirteenth minute, before Devon Williams’ first touch shot had no hope of being stopped. Haitian Herve Basile did peg one back before halftime, only for left back Kemar Lawrence to restore the three-goal lead.

St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada played a scoreless draw in the battle to remain off the bottom of the table. The hosts had all the play across the match, but kept having to shoot from outside the box, and all to no avail.

Five days later, Grenada flew to Jamaica, only to be defeated 4-0. The first half was dominated by the hosts, as they scored in the eighth minute by Cory Burke. In the second half, the floodgates opened in Bobby De Cordova-Reid leading onto a ball from the right flank and scoring with ease. Junior Flemmings then scored a brace, first with a straightforward header, then running onto a lifted ball behind the Grenadian defence and shooting with his left foot. From there, Jamaica should have had a fifth, but four was more than enough.

Canada came from behind to win 2-1 against a surprising St Vincent and the Grenadines, who showed signs of their 2018 World Cup qualifying status. Chevron McClean shot from long range, with the Canadian goalkeeper unable to get a hand to the ball. In the second half, Canada finally took control of the match, as substitute Lucas Cavallini headed home the equaliser. Cavallini had a chance to take the lead with a penalty, only to hit the woodwork and then overwhelmed by the miss that he missed the follow-up shot. Instead, it was up to Alphonso Davies to gain Canada the lead, and from there, the hosts held firm for the three points, even with Cavallini hitting the woodwork again in the 90th minute.

Herve Bazile and Léverton Pierre scored again for Haiti as they overtook Canada at the top of the group, defeating Bermuda 3-0. Duckens Nazon capped off a near-flawless game, giving Haiti a real shot at making it to Qatar next year. Bermuda, on the other hand, after a great 2020, look like qualification for the World Cup may be a stretch too far.

Five days later, Bermuda also went down at home to Jamaica, even when they needed a win to level on points with the visitors. The Bermudans had the better of most of the match, though their crosses from both wings often had too much power. Instead, Jamaica only needed one choice attack to score, with substitute at halftime Michail Antonio heading home an initial Bermuda goalkeeping parry.

St Vincent and the Grenadines showed a little of their 2018 qualifying prowess when they drew 1-1 with Haiti. Kurtlon Williams scored with his head off a corner in the fifth minute. Six minutes later, though, Kevin Lafrance scored the free kick of the CONCACAF Qualifiers from long range, something the defender has not done for a long, long time. St Vincent should have won the game late with a penalty, only for Kyle Edwards to miss the whole goal. Still, the 2018 Qualifiers remain without a win.

Canada regained top spot with an away win against Grenada. The hosts allowed an easy goal in the eighth minute for Cyle Larin, scoring in similar fashion as he had against Haiti in March. From there, Canada were content to play more defensively, ensuring the full three points were theirs.

The race in Group B is now down to three nations: Canada, Jamaica and Haiti. Bermuda is unlikely to qualify.