Costa Rica contributed players to the Central America side last year which performed okay, whilst Dominican Republic were part of the very plucky Caribbean side, and Canada failed miserably with North Atlantic. Antigua & Barbuda are dark horses for qualification here, after star man Dexter Blackstock led them to a crushing group victory in Round 1. Barbados also won their Round 1 group, but go in here as the group’s underdogs.
The opening goal of the group went to Dominican Republic, who took a 5th-minute lead against Antigua & Barbuda through Wuiswell Isea’s free kick. An action-packed game ended with both teams down to 10 men as Antigua & Barbuda came back to draw 1-1. Canada and Barbados scrapped out an ugly encounter, the Canadians claiming a narrow 1-0 win with a penalty. Meanwhile, the USA were given a good test by Costa Rica, but eventually came through 4-2 winners with a Giovinco hat-trick.
The two Round 1 qualifiers met next, both seeing this as a good chance to get their opening wins. It was Antigua & Barbuda who took the chance, beating Barbados 5-2, thanks to four goals from Byers. Dominican Republic played well against the USA, but two late Giovinco goals led the Americans to a 3-1 win. More surprising, Canada also kept up their 100% record with a 2-0 win over Costa Rica, both goals going to Bojan Stepanovic.
Canada’s perfect record was ended abruptly by their local neighbours, as the USA strolled to a 3-0 win. Blackstock got his first goal of the round, but it was in vein as his Antigua & Barbuda side lost 2-1 away to Costa Rica. Meanwhile, Dominican Republic won 4-1 away to Barbados.
Michael Bradley got both a goal and a red card in the USA’s 3-0 win over Antigua & Barbuda, whilst Canada signalled their intent to stay with the group leaders by crushing Dominican Republic 6-0. Costa Rica eased to a 3-0 win to ensure Barbados remained pointless at the halfway stage.
Costa Rica couldn’t keep up this form, as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat away to Dominican Republic. The USA, meanwhile, got back into the groove with an 8-1 thumping of poor Barbados, with a double hat-trick for Giovinco. Canada weren’t going away, though, as Kouo’s hat-trick earned them a 4-1 win over Antigua & Barbuda.
There was mild joy for Barbados as they got their first point of the group with a 0-0 home draw with Antigua & Barbuda – it could have been even better for the hosts had Gregory Goodridge not hit the bar with a 12th-minute penalty. The USA beat Dominican Republic 4-0, meaning that if Canada could avoid defeat against Costa Rica, they and the USA would secure their qualification for the next round. Boris Milicic’s free kick gave Canada the lead, and despite Carlos Hernandez’s late equaliser, the 1-1 draw was enough to see Canada and the USA through.
Final standings
Highest average ratings: Sebastian Giovinco (USA) 8.51; Bradley (USA) 7.77; Besler (USA) 7.73
Next time
The remarkable thing about that group was how well Canada played, pushing the USA surprisingly close – just a single draw from either of their clashes would have seen Canada win the group. And there is an argument that Canada’s squad should be strengthened by the likes of Giovinco, who play for Toronto, which is in Canada but plays in the American leagues. Anyway, next time we go to Oceania to see if New Zealand can secure their place in the final stage of qualification there.