The U.S. Men’s National Team may have strongly strengthened their position with a win on Tuesday, but one CONCACAF power took it one step further by sealing their place in the Hexagonal.
Mexico and Costa Rica each enjoyed lopsided victories, with the former sealing their spot in the Hexagonal with a victory over Canada. Los Ticos, meanwhile, swarmed Jamaica to all but lock up a spot in the next round with two games to play.
In other action, Trinidad & Tobago continued their dominance in Group C and Honduras picked up a crucial win over El Salvador, while Panama strengthened their case with a victory over Haiti.
Here’s a closer look at Tuesday’s results:
MEXICO SWARMS CANADA TO LOCK UP BERTH IN HEX
Facing off with Canada at the Azteca, Tuesday’s result was never in doubt for Mexico.
El Tri toppled their North American rivals, 2-0, to pick up their fourth qualifying win in as many games to open the round. Mexico started the scoring from the penalty spot as Andres Guarded fired home in the 17th minute. Jesus “Tecatito” Corona sealed the victory in first-half injury time by providing the much-needed insurance goal to allow Mexico to cruise throughout the second half.
Following the win, Mexico, who has yet to concede in qualifying, returns to action on September 2 at El Salvador, while Canada visits Honduras that same day.
COSTA RICA MAINTAINS STRANGLEHOLD ON GROUP B
Costa Rica has not yet locked up a spot in the Hex, but Los Ticos took a step towards doing so with a win over Jamaica on Tuesday night.
Goals from Celso Borges, Bryan Ruiz and Johan Venegas helped Los Ticos cruise to a 3-0 win over the Reggae Boyz on Tuesday at the Estadio Nacional. Borges helped Los Ticos to a hot start with a seventh minute finish, before Ruiz added another 30 minutes later. Venegas’ tally came via a beautiful sequence of build-up play, putting a Tico stamp on a dominant performance.
Los Ticos will resume their qualifying campaign in September with a visit to Haiti, while Jamaica travels to Panama.
T&T CRUISES PAST ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
Already atop Group A, Trinidad & Tobago made yet another statement of supremacy with a lopsided result in Port of Spain.
Five different T&T goalscorers marked their name on the scoresheet as T&T cruised past St. Vincent & The Grenadines, 6-0, to remain atop Group A. Trevin Caesar led the way with a brace, while Kevin Molino, Joevin Jones, Kenwyne Jones and Sheldon Bateau each contributed finishes of their own.
The victory keeps T&T atop Group A with 10 points of a possible 12. The Soca Warriors’ next match will come with a September clash with Guatemala, while St. Vincent & The Grenadines prepares to host the USMNT.
LATE GOAL LEADS PANAMA PAST HAITI
Panama left it for late, but did just enough to escape with three points against Haiti.
Felipe Baloy’s 81st minute finish proved just enough for Panama to seal victory, as Los Canaleros left the Estadio Rommel Fernandez with a 1-0 victory against the Haitians. With the win, Panama moves into second place in Group B, three points behind Costa Rica and three ahead of Jamaica.
With two games left to play, Panama will look to lock up their Hexagonal berth with a win over Jamaica in September, while Haiti’s slim hopes rest on a home matchup with Costa Rica.
HONDURAS TOPS EL SALVADOR AS GROUP A REMAINS TIGHT
With Mexico cruising, second place in Group A remains very much up for grabs, and Honduras made a move towards snagging it on Tuesday night.
Second half goals from Boniek Garcia and Romell Quioto led Honduras to a 2-0 victory over El Salvador. The win moves Honduras into second in Group A with four points, level with Canada but ahead on goal differential.
Honduras and Canada meet up in their next World Cup qualifying clashes, while El Salvador will look to avoid slipping further out of the picture with an upset win over Mexico.
USA Hex Scenarios:
A win at SVG and a loss by Guatemala (and SVG is 0-0-2 at home). (Draw by Guatemala would also probably do it since we are +6 on goal diff over them.)
Or
Four points in the next two games (@SVG, home v. T&T).
And, if we win our last two, we could edge out T&T on goal differential, depending on the various outcomes.
As much as it pains me to say it, Mexico is clearly the class team of CONCACAF now and for the next few years. And we will have our work cut out beating Costa Rica, assuming we qualify for the Hex. Fortunately Honduras isn’t as strong, it seems, as in the previous cycle.
I would agree. I would also point out that international play, form and available talent is cyclical. Let’s not forget, if not for Graham Zusi, Mexico would have been at home watching the World Cup in 2014.
Ride the wave until the next one comes to shore. We’ll be fine.
We should qualify for the WC. And once there, a lot depends on the draw and then matchups and, sometimes, luck. My point is that we are no longer better than Mexico because their youth players that won championships are now making their influence felt while it will be a couple of years before our good young players can do the same. so, if we finish second to Mexico in the Hex, it is nothing to get too excited about.
LOL.
when will we start wining youth world cups and gold medals?
same thing was said last cycle after they cruised to the hex
That second Mexico goal……