November 8th to 21st, 2021 (World Cup Qualifiers [CONCACAF])

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

November 8th to 21st, 2021 (World Cup Qualifiers [CONCACAF])

 

World Cup Qualifiers

The final matches of World Cup Qualification in North America took place this fortnight.

 

In Group A, Raúl Jiménez scored the only goal for Mexico against Curaçao in the 40th minute. The hosts dominated the match but could only produce that goal, and then their minds turned to the result between El Salvador and Panama.

 

Only needing a win, the Panamanians travelled to El Salvador. However, the hosts had other ideas, winning 3-1. Josh Pérez opened the scoring, before José Fajardo equalised for the visitors. After the break, El Salvador were relentless, scoring via Narciso Orellana and Denis Pineda to lift them into fourth place, pending the Guyana-Puerto Rico game.

 

Omari Glasgow scored the only goal for Guyana against Puerto Rico in the 27th minute, allowing El Salvador to remain in fourth. It was Guyana’s first win for the Qualifiers.

 

Four days later, Mexico’s Jiménez won a penalty early, causing Puerto Rico to be reduced to ten players. However, his penalty was saved by the left hand of Cody Laurendi. Instead, it took Roberto Alvarado to open the scoring from there. Laurendi then gave Jiménez another penalty, which he coolly delivered this time. Jiménez then scored again, before Efraín Álvarez capped off a brilliant night for the Mexicans, with Puerto Rican defender Darren Ríos gaining a late consolation goal.

 

Was the night about to get better? It did, as Panama could not overcome Guyana, buoyed by their first win. Panama certainly had the chances, only to have the Guyana goalkeeper, Kyle Mckenzie-Lyle, stopping multiple shots in the first half. In the second half, the defence held firm, with only Panamanian substitute Cesar Yanis attempting any decent last gasp shot. In the end, Panama fell over at the end, and Mexico advanced to Qatar.

 

Meanwhile, substitute Anthony van den Hurk finished off Curaçao’s campaign with a 1-0 victory over El Salvador in the match for third place.

 

	CONCACAF WCQ Gr A	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Mexico	10	6	4	0	22	+12
2	Panama	10	6	3	1	21	+7
3	Curaçao	10	3	4	3	13	+1
4	El Salvador	10	2	3	5	9	-7
5	Puerto Rico	10	2	2	6	8	-7
6	Guyana	10	1	4	5	7	-6

 

 

In Group C, Jose Martínez scored in the thirteenth minute for Guatemala against the Dominican Republic for the hosts to leap over them in the table.

 

Judah Garcia scored in additional time to gain Trinidad and Tobago’s winner away to the Bahamas. The Bahamans thought attack was the best form of defence, and for large parts of the game, it was. However, Trinidad’s defence held firm, with plenty of blocked shots. The same could be said for the hosts, as they made it tricky for the top of the table team to stay that way. It took a fortunate through pass to find Garcia by himself, and he slotted before the Bahaman goalkeeper had time to reach him. It was so late in the match that there was no hope of an equaliser.

 

Both the US and Montserrat knew a win would be their only hope of topping Group C after Trinidad’s win. Montserrat only looked a shadow of the team they have been throughout the Qualifiers. Similarly, the US looked flat and worn out, with no effective shots in the first half �" only mild ones. In the second half, Joshua Sargent came off the bench and hit both posts, with the ball never crossing the line. Christian Pulisic also hit the post, but in the end, a scoreless draw meant the USA miss out on Qatar 2022, unless a miracle happens in the final Match Day.

 

Pulisic scored, however, off the post in the 36th minute in their rubber against the Dominican Republic. This was enough for the three points, but sadly they missed out on qualification.

 

Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, only needed a draw against Montserrat, while a win for the visitors would secure qualification. Montserrat had the best two chances early, resulting in the lead via Lyle Taylor. Ryan Telfer, however, equalised in the 40th minute after Trinidad attacked without relent. In the second half, the hosts controlled much of the play, and played for the draw. Onwards to Qatar for Trinidad and Tobago!

 

The Bahamans also defeated Guatemala 1-0 to reclaim fourth spot on the table, dropping the Dominican Republic to the bottom.

 

 

	CONCACAF WCQ Gr C	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Trinidad and Tobago	10	5	4	1	19	+8
2	USA	10	5	3	2	18	+5
3	Montserrat	10	4	5	1	17	+5
4	Bahamas	10	2	3	5	9	-4
5	Guatemala	10	3	0	7	9	-7
6	Dominican Republic	10	1	5	4	8	-8

 

In Group B, the final two matches had three teams left in contention: Jamaica, Canada and Haiti. Haiti needed to defeat both Canada and then Jamaica to qualify for Qatar. Canada, facing Haiti and Bermuda, were looking for both wins, but a draw from one would keep them in the hunt, should Jamaica draw and then Canada defeat the other side by a large margin. Jamaica would qualify with two wins, especially in the hope of facing St Vincent and the Grenadines in the penultimate match. However, a draw or loss would make it difficult.

 

In fact, the draw took place, as St Vincent were the more accurate side on goal, whilst Jamaica were only two shots on target out of nine in the first half. Kyle Edwards surprised the hosts in the fifteenth minute, with a solid goal from just inside the 18-yard box. From there, the Jamaicans were chasing the match, hoping for a goal. It finally came with ten minutes left, as Michail Antonio looped his header over the St Vincent goalkeeper. That set up a tense finale to the match, only for St Vincent’s defence to hold firm to the draw.

 

Haiti came from behind to defeat Canada 4-2. Jonathan Davies opened the scoring in the second minute, catching the Haitian defence asleep with a shot off the post and in the goal. The commentators thought Haiti would be chasing the match, much like Jamaica did, only to see Leverton Pierre score, set up by last month’s scorer Carlens Arcus. In the second half, Duckens Nazon shot from just inside the box, lifting the ball just under the crossbar and giving Haiti the lead. The floodgates then opened as Pierre and Nazon both scored a brace; Pierre with a penalty, and Nazon with a bouncing header off a corner. Canadian substitute Cyle Larin managed a late consolation goal, only to see their side falter, and leaving the final Match Day as open as open could be.

 

Grenada scored with the only shot on target in the first half against Bermuda, with Jamal Charles scoring in similar fashion as he had in October against Haiti. However, no one managed a second goal, and so Grenada defeated Bermuda 1-0.

 

Canada bounced back from the loss against Haiti with a solid 2-0 victory over Bermuda. This would not be enough to claim top spot, and as the match deepened, the Canadians knew it. Tajon Buchanan and Jonathan Davies both scored for the hosts in their final match of the campaign.

 

Jamaica then won the group with a 3-2 away win against Haiti. Haitian Duckens Nazon opened the scoring early. However, a hat trick from Michail Antonio ensured victory. Substitute Louicious Deedson managed to gain one back for the visitors, but it was too little, too late, as Jamaica gained all the accolades of winning Group B.

 

Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines played out a scoreless draw to round out the group, and ensure the 2018 Qualifiers remained on the bottom of the table, with only six draws to their name.

 

	CONCACAF WCQ Gr B	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Jamaica	10	6	3	1	21	+10
2	Canada	10	6	1	3	19	+4
3	Haiti	10	5	2	3	17	+5
4	Bermuda	10	3	2	5	11	-5
5	Grenada	10	2	2	6	8	-8
6	St Vincent and the Grenadines	10	0	6	4	6	-6