Honduras standing in way of Canada's World Cup soccer dream

Canada doesn’t often win in Cuba – its 1-0 victory last Friday was just the second time this nation has triumphed on the shores of the Caribbean’s most infamous island – but then Canada doesn’t often qualify for the World Cup either: just once in 55 years of trying.

More Related to this Story

• Occean’s goal leads Canada over Cuba in World Cup qualifying

• Canada, U.S. tie in soccer friendly

Still, despite getting a leg up on the opposition – a solid three points in the first game of a four-team, double round-robin World Cup qualifying phase – Canadian coach Stephen Hart is not about to connect the two events, and neither should anyone else.

“We’ve achieved nothing,” he said Monday as he prepared his troops for a home encounter Tuesday with Honduras, which beat Canada twice on the way to qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa two years ago.

While many soccer fans in Canada are in the throes of passion that can only be provided by the big international tournaments, with the European championship the flavour of the month, Hart can only look on enviously and hope some of them spill over into BMO Field in Toronto on Tuesday night.

Through its first six games, Euro 2012 attracted an average of 707,000 viewers on TSN, a marked contrast to the game in Cuba last Friday that barely scratched 50,000 on Sportsnet. And with an exhibition draw with the United States last month drawing 15,000 to BMO, Hart will be hoping for at least that to roar Canada on to a significant step toward advancing to the final round of World Cup qualifying.

It won’t be easy. After losing its opener at home to Panama last Friday, Honduras will be “a wounded animal” when it turns up at BMO Field, although two consecutive clean sheets should be of some comfort, Hart said.

Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who was called on at short notice last Friday after starter Lars Hirschfeld was sent off for handling outside the area, will be given just his seventh start for the national team, but even with a relative lack of experience compared to Hirschfeld, his teammates have no doubt he can do the job.

“Thankfully there is no difference,” captain Dwayne De Rosario said of the switch. “They’re both calibred ’keepers and you saw Milan come in and fill the void when Lars unfortunately took a questionable red and he did fantastic for us, so you need that same type of mentality and leadership from him in goal.

“We’re confident with him back there and we have a very deep goalkeepers right now and we’re very fortunate to have that and we’re not expecting the level to drop in any way.”

Veteran PSV Eindhoven midfielder Atiba Hutchinson may also get a start for Canada this time after coming off the bench in Cuba having recently recovered from a knee injury, and based on Hart’s scouting report on the Hondurans, every bit of experience could be invaluable.

“A lot of athleticism and technical ability in key positions,” he said of the opponent Tuesday.

“They have some good wide play and of course [Carlos] Costly up front is a big man and a handful, especially crosses in the air, we’re going to have to eliminate [them] as much as possible, and of course deal with him when crosses do come in.”

The reward for a win is huge, as with six points Canada would be a long way toward the 10 or so it will take to ensure moving on, and with a summer break to follow for European-based players, getting it at home would be the perfect sendoff.

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Peliculas Online

USA Vs. Guatemala, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: USMNT Just Barely Hanging On

There is only one thing that matters in World Cup qualifying -- the result. The United States may have been poor all match and an argument can easily be made that Guatemala has been better, but they are just 15 minutes away from three points and in qualifying that is all that matters.

Guatemala is really pouring the pressure on now. They have had the bulk of the chances and have had good ones at that. They just missed the post on several occasions and Marco Pappa forced Tim Howard into a brilliant save to keep this one level. It's been all Guatemala, but zero goals and that is all that matters.

There are 15 minutes left for the U.S. to hold on. They don't need to be good and they don't need to impress. They just need to hold on.

Check out our Guatemala vs. USA StoryStream for all of your preview, live and post-match coverage. For more on this match and the entire world of soccer, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

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USA Vs. Guatemala, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Marco Pappa's Brilliant Free Kick Levels

The United States did not really deserve to be ahead after 83 poorly played minutes and now they aren't thanks to Marco Pappa. The Guatemalan hit an absolutely gorgeous free kick up and over the U.S. wall, then dipped it under the bar to beat a helpless Tim Howard. The crowd in Guatemala City exploded and the match was level at 1-1.

The foul was one of many that the U.S. has given away and Guatemala finally took advantage. The free kick was from a tick outside of 20 yards and it was a gem. Pappa should be on every highlight video for that one because it was as well hit as it could have been.

Meanwhile, the U.S. can't feel too hard done. Guatemala has had more chances, has looked more confident and has been the all-around better side. For Guatemala to lose would have been harsh and now they aren't. With seven minutes plus extra time to go now, the U.S. needs to regroup because if any team is going to score a winner it looks like it would be Guatemala.

Check out our Guatemala vs. USA StoryStream for all of your preview, live and post-match coverage. For more on this match and the entire world of soccer, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

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USA Vs. Guatemala Final Score, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Marco Pappa Steals 1-1 Draw

The United States is in pole position to make the hexagonal from their World Cup qualifying third-round group, but they will still be disappointed to walk away from Guatemala with just a draw. The USMNT held a lead for the majority of the second half, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw thanks to a brilliant free kick equalizer from Marco Pappa.

Clint Dempsey scored the United States' goal in the 40th minute, putting the finishing touch on the team's only truly great attacking move in the first half. Fabian Johnson was the architect, providing the assist with a great run up the left flank, then a pass to the feet of Dempsey. He stepped past a defender and placed a low shot into the back of the net at the far post, giving the United States a lead at the end of a poorly played first half.

The United States didn't play much better in the second half, though they did have one good goal disallowed. In the 76th minute, Maurice Edu was hacked down on the edge of the penalty area, but the ball fell to substitute Jozy Altidore, who scored. Unfortunately for him and the USMNT, the goal was called back on a whistle. Inexplicably, the referee failed to play advantage and wiped out the goal.

That would prove to be a key decision seven minutes later, when Pappa netted the equalizer. His free kick came from 25 yards out and completely fooled Tim Howard, who was left standing still as the shot hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the goal.

Howard was tested much more than anyone could have expected, and even though the United States had a goal wiped out by a bad call, Guatemala should have scored two or three times before Altidore's disallowed goal. Howard made a number of excellent saves, with his biggest moment coming in the 72nd minute. He made a great save on a set piece, and Carlos Ruiz sent a rebound attempt miles over the crossbar when it would have been easier to hit the target.

Jurgen Klinsmann and the USMNT won't be very pleased with their play, and there will be plenty for the team to work on when they get back together at the end of the summer, but a draw in Guatemala isn't an awful result, and they're still heavy favorites to win the group and comfortably advance to the hexagonal round of qualifying.

Check out our Guatemala vs. USA StoryStream for all of your preview, live and post-match coverage. For more on this match and the entire world of soccer, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

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USA Vs. Guatemala, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Referee Robs USMNT Of A Goal

The United States has to be irate right now because they just scored to go up 2-0 on Guatemala, but the referee waved it off. Instead of counting Jozy Altidore's goal, he whistled for a foul a half-second earlier, apparently unaware of this thing called "advantage."

It was a pretty textbook play. The ball was at the top of the box on Clint Dempsey's foot when he was fouled. The ball squirted free right to Altidore, who was in all alone on goal. He slide the ball into the side netting and goal, right! Wrong. The referee, fixated on the foul blew the whistle, awarded a free kick and did not award the goal. It was exactly why advantage exists, yet the referee decided not to play it for reasons only he knows.

If Guatemala scores, this one is going to sting for the U.S. They should be up 2-0 and instead are just up 1-0.

Check out our Guatemala vs. USA StoryStream for all of your preview, live and post-match coverage. For more on this match and the entire world of soccer, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

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Canada squanders chance to take stranglehold on World Cup qualifying

The nightmare scenario didn’t develop. Honduran fans did not wrench home-field advantage away from Canadian fans at BMO Field, and while their desperate team came equipped with its usual bag of referee-baiting tricks, it wasn’t enough to grab a needed three points in qualifying for Brazil 2014.

More Related to this Story

• Canada prepares to overcome obstacles in World Cup qualifying match with Cuba

• Occean’s goal leads Canada over Cuba in World Cup qualifying

• Paul Attfield Honduras standing in way of Canada's World Cup soccer dream

But the fact that the glass half-empty crew from inside the Canadian dressing room – not the media or the fans – carried the day in post-match analysis was telling. Ten, 11 or 12 points to move on? Doesn’t matter. Tuesday’s scoreless draw at BMO Field was three points kissed or, more precisely, headed away.

Panama, which surprised Honduras 2-0 in their first qualifying match, is next up for Canada at BMO when qualifying resumes on Sept. 7 and Canada, 1-0 winners in its first match in Cuba, still must play in Honduras and Panama in order to be one of the teams to advance to the next stage of qualifying out of this group of four. “I’m not happy with this point,” said head coach Stephen Hart, who in an in interview with Sportsnet immediately following the match called Canada’s tendency to choke inside the other teams area “a repeating story …. Ground Hog Day.”

Canada had plenty of chances to win this match – two alone in added time – but failed to finish. Again. That included the final kick of the ball in this affair before 16,132: Will Johnson’s free kick deflecting wide off the head of Simeon Jackson, who is good enough to log significant minutes playing for Norwich City in the Premiership but in Canada’s biggest home match in years can’t come on until the last five minutes. Is Jackson the sure-fire finisher who could single-handedly answer Canada’s shortages? No. But he’s easily one of Hart’s six best players. He is around the ball and that can create set-piece opportunities and, well, let’s just come out and say it: Canada’s not good enough to be that picky.

Four years ago, Honduras – which unlike Canada lives and breathes with its two Premiership-calibre players, Wilson Palacios and Maynor Figueroa – beat Canada in a World Cup qualifier in Montreal that was played before a largely pro-Honduras crowd. They were present at BMO on Tuesday night but were more of a factor for their large blue and white flags in the north end than their noise, so much so that Hart was moved to thank the Canadian fans, who were in full voice especially in added time as the Hondurans twisted and turned.

The first half was, to be polite, one of those unevenly officiated affairs that can make CONCACAF seem awfully Mickey Mouse in these days of saturated television coverage of overseas soccer. The Hondurans are masters of playing up to officials – if you don’t think that’s important, you didn’t hear U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann lecture his team on the importance of in-game politics during their recent run of tune-up matches for qualifying – and Canada finished the half with 10 fouls to the Hondurans’ three. Palacios, who plays for Stoke City in the English Premiership, was a particularly nasty piece of work and twice flirted with red cards, once for lashing out at DeRosario and again for a two-footed challenge on Atiba Hutchinson.

The first 45 minutes had all the feel of a match in which somebody would have to spend a fair amount of time playing with 10 men. But it was the victory – as opposed to retribution – that seemed on both teams minds in the second half. Canada had three strong opportunities on set pieces, with David Edgar heading the ball just wide of Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares in the 67th minute, and captain Kevin McKenna winning an aerial battle in extra time to get his head on a corner from Johnson, only to see it, too, miss the target.

Canada was lively on the attack at times and Julian de Guzman had another one of those performances that must drive Toronto FC fans off the ledge (were he half the player for club he is for country), as Canada cut down the Hondurans space in midfield, but was once again done in by a lack of finish. “It’s not luck,” forward Oliver Occean said. “It’s quality. This was a disappointing result. We can’t score that one goal.”

The fondest hopes of those within Canada Soccer is that two of the games wayward sons, Junior Hoilett and Jonathan de Guzman, might still see fit to don the country’s colors in lieu of another country’s. De Guzman, who was in attendance at BMO Field wearing a throw-back Canada jersey top, seemed to snuff out that possibility Tuesday night when he told The Score that “as of this point,” he was firm in the commitment he made in 2008 to the Dutch national program. Hoilett might want to seriously consider whether playing for his father’s birth country, Jamaica, really offers much more in the way of international opportunity than hooking up with Canada, since the Jamaican program is no longer one of CONCACAF’s best. Dwayne De Rosario said he thought the Canadians let Honduras off the hook. They did. For once there was a chance for Canada to carve out a rare comfort level for itself, and Hart’s men were not up to it. These lost points will need to be made up on foreign soil, and that’s not usually the Canadian way.

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U.S. ties Guatemala in World Cup qualifying

Marco Pappa’s 83rd minute free kick gave Guatemala a 1-1 home draw against the United States in their CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

More Related to this Story

• CONCACAF Canada squanders chance to take stranglehold on World Cup qualifying

Clint Dempsey put the United States ahead in the 40th minute, but Fabian Johnson pulled down Carlos Ruiz just outside the penalty area to set up the late free kick in a dangerous position. Pappa, a Chicago Fire midfielder, put a 24-yard shot just under the crossbar that froze goalkeeper Tim Howard.

It was a disappointing result for the 28th-ranked Americans, who failed for long stretches to impose their will against 85th-ranked Guatemala, a team that has never qualified for the World Cup.

Seeking its seventh straight World Cup finals appearance, the U.S. has four points from two games, topping Group A on goal difference over Jamaica. Guatemala, plus Antigua and Barbuda, each have one point, with the top two teams in each of the three regional groups to progress to a six-nation stage which will determine the three qualifiers for the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

The Americans extended their unbeaten streak against Guatemala to 18 games since 1988.

Dempsey scored his 27th international goal off a play that started with a short pass from Johnson on the left. Dempsey cut across to his right, talking touches as he sidestepped Carlos Gallardo and Erwin Morales, then wrong-footed the goalkeeper from 16 yards.

It was Dempsey’s 28th goal of the season for club and country, including 23 for England’s Fulham.

Just before the goal, Howard made a diving save on Carlos Figueroa’s open 10-yard shot.

Ruiz nearly equalized in first-half stoppage time, hooking just wide on a left-footed shot from the top of the arc. When the second half started, Guatemala just missed with a header that went narrowly over the crossbar following a corner.

Guatemala argued unsuccessfully for a penalty early in the second half after American defender Carlos Bocanegra kicked a clearance up off his own hand.

Howard made a diving stop on Rodriguez’s 5-yard in shot in the 69th after a corner was headed in front of the goal. Then, with the net wide open, Ruiz skied the rebound over the crossbar.

Altidore put the ball in the net in the 79th, but play was called back for a foul.

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Peliculas Online

Honduras standing in way of Canada's World Cup soccer dream

Canada doesn’t often win in Cuba – its 1-0 victory last Friday was just the second time this nation has triumphed on the shores of the Caribbean’s most infamous island – but then Canada doesn’t often qualify for the World Cup either: just once in 55 years of trying.

More Related to this Story

• Occean’s goal leads Canada over Cuba in World Cup qualifying

• Canada, U.S. tie in soccer friendly

Still, despite getting a leg up on the opposition – a solid three points in the first game of a four-team, double round-robin World Cup qualifying phase – Canadian coach Stephen Hart is not about to connect the two events, and neither should anyone else.

“We’ve achieved nothing,” he said Monday as he prepared his troops for a home encounter Tuesday with Honduras, which beat Canada twice on the way to qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa two years ago.

While many soccer fans in Canada are in the throes of passion that can only be provided by the big international tournaments, with the European championship the flavour of the month, Hart can only look on enviously and hope some of them spill over into BMO Field in Toronto on Tuesday night.

Through its first six games, Euro 2012 attracted an average of 707,000 viewers on TSN, a marked contrast to the game in Cuba last Friday that barely scratched 50,000 on Sportsnet. And with an exhibition draw with the United States last month drawing 15,000 to BMO, Hart will be hoping for at least that to roar Canada on to a significant step toward advancing to the final round of World Cup qualifying.

It won’t be easy. After losing its opener at home to Panama last Friday, Honduras will be “a wounded animal” when it turns up at BMO Field, although two consecutive clean sheets should be of some comfort, Hart said.

Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who was called on at short notice last Friday after starter Lars Hirschfeld was sent off for handling outside the area, will be given just his seventh start for the national team, but even with a relative lack of experience compared to Hirschfeld, his teammates have no doubt he can do the job.

“Thankfully there is no difference,” captain Dwayne De Rosario said of the switch. “They’re both calibred ’keepers and you saw Milan come in and fill the void when Lars unfortunately took a questionable red and he did fantastic for us, so you need that same type of mentality and leadership from him in goal.

“We’re confident with him back there and we have a very deep goalkeepers right now and we’re very fortunate to have that and we’re not expecting the level to drop in any way.”

Veteran PSV Eindhoven midfielder Atiba Hutchinson may also get a start for Canada this time after coming off the bench in Cuba having recently recovered from a knee injury, and based on Hart’s scouting report on the Hondurans, every bit of experience could be invaluable.

“A lot of athleticism and technical ability in key positions,” he said of the opponent Tuesday.

“They have some good wide play and of course [Carlos] Costly up front is a big man and a handful, especially crosses in the air, we’re going to have to eliminate [them] as much as possible, and of course deal with him when crosses do come in.”

The reward for a win is huge, as with six points Canada would be a long way toward the 10 or so it will take to ensure moving on, and with a summer break to follow for European-based players, getting it at home would be the perfect sendoff.

View the original article here

Peliculas Online

Costa Rica Vs. El Salvador, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Ticos Disappoint in Draw

Last qualifying cycle, Costa Rica was one of CONCACAF's top teams. They just missed out on qualifying for the World Cup, but they were clearly among the best that the region had to offer. This time around they might not even qualify for the final round of qualifying. The Ticos drew 2-2 with El Salvador at home on Friday to open up World Cup qualifying and with Mexico also in the group, they are behind the eight ball early on.

The match started brilliantly for the Ticos too. Alvaro Saborio scored nine minutes in, then starlet Joel Campbell doubled Costa Rica's lead six minutes later. The Ticos had played just 15 minutes and were already up 2-0. Everything was great, right? Wrong.

Isidro Gutierrez cut the lead in half in the 23rd minute and made a match of things again in San Jose. Then in the 55th minute Osael Romero equalized to stun the Ticos and earn El Salvador a great draw on the road.

After one day of play, Costa Rica and El Salvador are both on one point, two behind Mexico and one ahead of Guyana. Even so, El Salvador is in the driver's seat with the Ticos still having to play them in El Salvador.

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Peliculas Online

Costa Rica Vs. El Salvador, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Ticos Disappoint in Draw

Last qualifying cycle, Costa Rica was one of CONCACAF's top teams. They just missed out on qualifying for the World Cup, but they were clearly among the best that the region had to offer. This time around they might not even qualify for the final round of qualifying. The Ticos drew 2-2 with El Salvador at home on Friday to open up World Cup qualifying and with Mexico also in the group, they are behind the eight ball early on.

The match started brilliantly for the Ticos too. Alvaro Saborio scored nine minutes in, then starlet Joel Campbell doubled Costa Rica's lead six minutes later. The Ticos had played just 15 minutes and were already up 2-0. Everything was great, right? Wrong.

Isidro Gutierrez cut the lead in half in the 23rd minute and made a match of things again in San Jose. Then in the 55th minute Osael Romero equalized to stun the Ticos and earn El Salvador a great draw on the road.

After one day of play, Costa Rica and El Salvador are both on one point, two behind Mexico and one ahead of Guyana. Even so, El Salvador is in the driver's seat with the Ticos still having to play them in El Salvador.

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Peliculas Online

Honduras Vs. Panama, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Blas Perez Stuns Catrachos

Honduras are an emerging team in CONCACAF, the third-best team in the region and the ones most suited to challenge the U.S. and Mexico. They were the heavy favorites in Group C of the third round of World Cup qualifying and weren't really supposed to be challenged until the final round. Apparently nobody told Blas Perez and Panama that because thanks to Perez's brace, Panama went to Honduras and came away 2-0 winners on Friday.

After more than an hour of scoreless soccer, Perez finally broke the deadlock when he got the best of Victor Bernardez in the 65th minute. He notched the opener and the Panamanians were on their way to a shocker. Just for good measure, Perez added one more in the 81st minute and the upset was done.

With the win, Panama moves to the top of Group C with Canada on three points. Honduras and Cuba are bringing up the rear without a point.

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Peliculas Online

Jamaica Vs. Guatemala, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Reggae Boyz Win 2-1

If anyone was going to challenge the United States for first place in Group A of the third round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, it was going to be Jamaica and they started off the round right on Friday. The Reggae Boyz got goals just before and after halftime to beat Guatemala, 2-1, and grab three points at home.

Demar Phillips got the opening tally for Jamaica, scoring in the 41st minute to get the Reggae Boyz a lead they deserved after a good opening to the match. They would take that 1-0 lead into halftime, but just one minute into the second half Ryan Johnson scored to double the lead for the home side.

Dwight Pezzarossi got a goal back for Guatemala in the 90th minute, but it was too late by then. Jamaica had lived up to the hyped of the group's top challenger to the favored U.S. with a solid 90 minutes and a deserved three points.

After one day, Jamaica and the U.S. are tied atop Group A with three points each. Guatemala is at the bottom of the group with Antigua and Barbuda without a point.

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Peliculas Online

Jamaica Vs. Guatemala, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Reggae Boyz Win 2-1

If anyone was going to challenge the United States for first place in Group A of the third round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, it was going to be Jamaica and they started off the round right on Friday. The Reggae Boyz got goals just before and after halftime to beat Guatemala, 2-1, and grab three points at home.

Demar Phillips got the opening tally for Jamaica, scoring in the 41st minute to get the Reggae Boyz a lead they deserved after a good opening to the match. They would take that 1-0 lead into halftime, but just one minute into the second half Ryan Johnson scored to double the lead for the home side.

Dwight Pezzarossi got a goal back for Guatemala in the 90th minute, but it was too late by then. Jamaica had lived up to the hyped of the group's top challenger to the favored U.S. with a solid 90 minutes and a deserved three points.

After one day, Jamaica and the U.S. are tied atop Group A with three points each. Guatemala is at the bottom of the group with Antigua and Barbuda without a point.

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Peliculas Online

Honduras Vs. Panama, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Blas Perez Stuns Catrachos

Honduras are an emerging team in CONCACAF, the third-best team in the region and the ones most suited to challenge the U.S. and Mexico. They were the heavy favorites in Group C of the third round of World Cup qualifying and weren't really supposed to be challenged until the final round. Apparently nobody told Blas Perez and Panama that because thanks to Perez's brace, Panama went to Honduras and came away 2-0 winners on Friday.

After more than an hour of scoreless soccer, Perez finally broke the deadlock when he got the best of Victor Bernardez in the 65th minute. He notched the opener and the Panamanians were on their way to a shocker. Just for good measure, Perez added one more in the 81st minute and the upset was done.

With the win, Panama moves to the top of Group C with Canada on three points. Honduras and Cuba are bringing up the rear without a point.

View the original article here

Peliculas Online

Honduras Vs. Panama, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Blas Perez Stuns Catrachos

Honduras are an emerging team in CONCACAF, the third-best team in the region and the ones most suited to challenge the U.S. and Mexico. They were the heavy favorites in Group C of the third round of World Cup qualifying and weren't really supposed to be challenged until the final round. Apparently nobody told Blas Perez and Panama that because thanks to Perez's brace, Panama went to Honduras and came away 2-0 winners on Friday.

After more than an hour of scoreless soccer, Perez finally broke the deadlock when he got the best of Victor Bernardez in the 65th minute. He notched the opener and the Panamanians were on their way to a shocker. Just for good measure, Perez added one more in the 81st minute and the upset was done.

With the win, Panama moves to the top of Group C with Canada on three points. Honduras and Cuba are bringing up the rear without a point.

View the original article here

Costa Rica Vs. El Salvador, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Ticos Disappoint in Draw

Last qualifying cycle, Costa Rica was one of CONCACAF's top teams. They just missed out on qualifying for the World Cup, but they were clearly among the best that the region had to offer. This time around they might not even qualify for the final round of qualifying. The Ticos drew 2-2 with El Salvador at home on Friday to open up World Cup qualifying and with Mexico also in the group, they are behind the eight ball early on.

The match started brilliantly for the Ticos too. Alvaro Saborio scored nine minutes in, then starlet Joel Campbell doubled Costa Rica's lead six minutes later. The Ticos had played just 15 minutes and were already up 2-0. Everything was great, right? Wrong.

Isidro Gutierrez cut the lead in half in the 23rd minute and made a match of things again in San Jose. Then in the 55th minute Osael Romero equalized to stun the Ticos and earn El Salvador a great draw on the road.

After one day of play, Costa Rica and El Salvador are both on one point, two behind Mexico and one ahead of Guyana. Even so, El Salvador is in the driver's seat with the Ticos still having to play them in El Salvador.

View the original article here

Jamaica Vs. Guatemala, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Reggae Boyz Win 2-1

If anyone was going to challenge the United States for first place in Group A of the third round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, it was going to be Jamaica and they started off the round right on Friday. The Reggae Boyz got goals just before and after halftime to beat Guatemala, 2-1, and grab three points at home.

Demar Phillips got the opening tally for Jamaica, scoring in the 41st minute to get the Reggae Boyz a lead they deserved after a good opening to the match. They would take that 1-0 lead into halftime, but just one minute into the second half Ryan Johnson scored to double the lead for the home side.

Dwight Pezzarossi got a goal back for Guatemala in the 90th minute, but it was too late by then. Jamaica had lived up to the hyped of the group's top challenger to the favored U.S. with a solid 90 minutes and a deserved three points.

After one day, Jamaica and the U.S. are tied atop Group A with three points each. Guatemala is at the bottom of the group with Antigua and Barbuda without a point.

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Mexico Vs. Guyana, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Final Score, El Tri Unimpressive In Win

Fans of the United States probably aren't too pleased with their team's performance, but they can take some comfort in the fact that their biggest rivals did essentially the same thing. Against a Guyana team that they were supposed to crush, Mexico scored an early goal, fell asleep a bit, allowed a goal on a miscue and eventually coasted to a two-goal win against a team they should have defeated by six or seven goals.

Ultimately, they all count the same, and El Tri will be happy to take three points from their 3-1 win on Friday. Carlos Salcido scored the opener in the 11th minute and that was quickly followed by a Giovani dos Santos goal in the 15th minute, assisted by Aldo de Nigris. Just after halftime, 'Chicharito' Javier Hernandez flicked in a third for Mexico.

Guyana's goal was the last of the match, in the 62nd minute, and they didn't even get the pleasure of scoring it. Hector Moreno did the honors, deflecting a cross into his own net.

'Chepo' Jose Manuel de la Torre decided to show Guyana very little respect in this match, starting with one midfielder and two strikers in a 4-1-3-2. He'll play a different team against El Salvador on Tuesday. Most likely, de Nigris will move to the bench while Salcido moves to midfield and Jorge Torres Nilo comes in at left back.

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