October 11th to 17th, 2021 (World Cup Qualifiers [CONCACAF])

A Chapter by Steve Clark

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

October 11th to 17th, 2021 (World Cup Qualifiers [CONCACAF])

World Cup Qualifiers

In Group A, Panama remains in the box seat to qualify. Mexico will hope for three wins to give them the best chance. Curaçao remain an outside chance but are unlikely to create enough chances to win all three.

El Salvador recorded their first win for the Qualifiers with a 1-0 victory over Puerto Rico. The visitors needed a win to have any chance of qualifying for the World Cup, but their lacklustre play meant El Salvador remained in the hunt for a goal. That came from the unlikely source of left back Lizandro Claros, who happened upon a loose ball in the box and hit it with his first touch. From there, Puerto Rico only managed one shot at goal, and El Salvador gained the full three points.

Raúl Jiménez scored right before the break for Mexico against Guyana to keep them within reach of the Panamanians. Three shots all in the same passage of play needed a post, a goalkeeping save and an offside to keep the Mexicans at bay. However, they persisted, and ensured a victory, albeit by a solitary goal.

Panama kept that four-point buffer as they came together in the second half, scoring twice to overcome Curaçao. Adalberto Carrasquilla was the unlikely hero, rebounding first to a post-hitting header, before knocking the ball into the net. Straight after, Édgar Yoel Bárcenas doubled the lead, ensuring the win and qualification for Qatar ever closer.

Mexico now face Curaçao at home and Puerto Rico away, having to gain maximum points. However, they will rely on Panama only drawing at best their final two games away to El Salvador and at home to Guyana. If Panama win either of these games, they will qualify.

	CONCACAF WCQ Gr A	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Panama	8	6	2	0	20	+9
2	Mexico	8	4	4	0	16	+8
3	Curaçao	8	2	4	2	10	+1
4	Puerto Rico	8	2	2	4	8	-3
5	El Salvador	8	1	3	4	6	-8
6	Guyana	8	0	3	5	3	-7

Honduras looked to keep themselves in the contest for Qatar in Group D, hosting Nicaragua, who themselves were only playing for pride. Honduras, through defender Marcelo Pereira, capitalised on a series of corners to take the lead. However, right before the break, Nicaragua caught the opposition defenders unawares, allowing Jaime Moreno to break even the match. Honduras had no answer in the second half, until substitute Jose García received a cutback pass from his fellow bench teammate, Jonathan Toro, and scored right with the last kick of the match.

The last two goal scorers for Costa Rica in their last two matches also came to the fray in their home match against St Kitts and Nevis. Randal Leal made the most of advancing into the box with Costa Rica’s relentless attacks down the left wing. Joel Campbell then backed it up with a quick shot from a perfect through pass. Left back Bryan Oviedo capped off the win in the 57th minute as he gathered the ball after two previous shots from his teammates and slammed into the back of the net. The win ensured Costa Rica’s place in the top two, and a place at Qatar almost certain.

That certainty was realised when Cuba drew with Barbados. Cuba looked the goods at gaining one step closer to second place with Onel Hernández scoring in the first half, hitting the bottom of the post before the ball crossed over the line. However, Hallam Hope brought the game level for Barbados, and their attacks at the death required steely defence to ensure the match ended a draw.

	CONCACAF WCQ Gr D	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Costa Rica	8	7	1	0	22	+12
2	Cuba	8	4	2	2	14	+3
3	Honduras	8	3	4	1	13	+3
4	St Kitts and Nevis	8	3	0	5	9	0
5	Barbados	8	2	2	4	8	-7
6	Nicaragua	8	0	1	7	1	-11

In Group C, Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic both made changes for their encounter as they drew 1-1, in similar style to the scoreless draw earlier in the Qualifiers. Dorny Romero and Justin Garcia scored for their teams on the stroke of halftime. Romero first put the visitors ahead with his head, collecting a beautiful cross and sending it into goal. Garcia then equalised moments later with a chip shot when facing the Trinidadian goalkeeper one-on-one. The hosts had all the play of the second half, though the Dominicans remained steadfast in defence, not allowing a chance to shoot in any compromising position. This draw, however, put the Dominican Republic out of contention for Qatar 2022.

James Comley scored again for Montserrat, this time against the Bahamas. Comley’s goal came in the fifth minute, part of Montserrat’s dominance over the visitors. In the second half, the host should have scored perhaps three more times, only for their radar to not work when in a great position to score. In the end, the 1-0 win placed them in range of Trinidad and Tobago, while the Bahamas saw no chance of making it to Qatar.

Brenden Aaronson scored for the USA against Guatemala with the last kick of the match, earning the Americans a vital three points heading into the final two Match Days of the Qualifiers in November. Guatemala had the better of play in the first half, restricting the visitors to zero shots. However, the second half was all the Americans, though they could not close until Aaronson found a way through.

The Americans are now one point behind Trinidad and Tobago and Montserrat. Group C will come down to the wire next month.

	CONCACAF WCQ Gr C	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Trinidad and Tobago	8	4	3	1	15	+7
2	Montserrat	8	4	3	1	15	+5
3	USA	8	4	2	2	14	+4
4	Dominican Republic	8	1	5	2	8	-6
5	Bahamas	8	1	3	4	6	-4
6	Guatemala	8	2	0	6	6	-7

Three nations vying for qualification in Group B in Canada, Jamaica and Haiti fought this month for that one spot.

Bermuda did keep their slim hopes alive with a 1-0 victory of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Lejaun Simmons needed two attempts to score in the 76th minute, pocketing the vital goal needed for Bermuda to stay in the hunt.

Haiti had a shock loss to bottom side Grenada. The visitors got the upper hand early with a header off a corner from Josh Gabriel. Haiti drew level via a Carlens Arcus long bomber goal. However, Jamal Charles restored the lead for Grenada. The second half was a tight affair, with Grenada holding firm in defence and Haiti attacking, all to no avail.

Jamaica took the lead in the group with a 1-0 victory over Canada. Jamaica had all the attacking play right across the game, but it was not until the 47th minute that Bobby De Cordova-Reid took on the Canadian defence and shot out of reach of the goalkeeper, despite eleven saves made throughout the match. From there, Jamaica’s attacking force kept the visitors on the back foot and were unable to find any equaliser.

Two Match Days remain. Can Jamaica hold on?