We’re in the middle of a trio of episodes which will wrap up a round of qualifying. Last time it was the second round in Africa, and next time it’s the first round in Asia. This time we’re going to see how the final North American Round 2 group goes. This is how the round looks:
So which two of today’s sides will join Mexico, El Salvador, USA and Canada in the final stage? Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica start as the group’s top seeds thanks to the fine efforts of the Caribbean side in the 2017 Draft World Cup qualification stage. However, realistically they aren’t far ahead of Guatemala, who were part of Central America last year, and Cuba who were also part of that Caribbean side. Meanwhile, Guyana and Guadeloupe won their groups in Round 1 to get here, although previous Round 1 winners have done pretty poorly.
What better place to start than in Kingston, where the top two seeds met. Michael Binns’ free kick gave hosts Jamaica the lead, but Rundell Winchester lashed home an equaliser, and 1-1 was a fair final score. Alexi Zuasnabar scored within 45 seconds to put Cuba ahead against Guyana, and they went on to finish 5-2 winners. Elsewhere, Guadeloupe and Guatemala played out a goalless draw – Guatemala having the best chance as Baloy’s penalty was well saved.
What better place to start than in Kingston, where the top two seeds met. Michael Binns’ free kick gave hosts Jamaica the lead, but Rundell Winchester lashed home an equaliser, and 1-1 was a fair final score. Alexi Zuasnabar scored within 45 seconds to put Cuba ahead against Guyana, and they went on to finish 5-2 winners. Elsewhere, Guadeloupe and Guatemala played out a goalless draw – Guatemala having the best chance as Baloy’s penalty was well saved.
That 0-0 draw was a decent start for Guadeloupe, and they beat fellow Round 1 victors Guyana 2-0 to suggest they might actually be a contender for this group. Cuba, meanwhile, were grateful for poor Trinidad & Tobago finishing, as Cuba claimed a 2-0 away win. Jamaica imploded against Guatemala, falling 5-0 behind with two goals for Erick Scott and William Zapata. However, Jamaica did improve and three late goals had Guatemala worried, although they held out for a 5-3 win.
Jamaica were pleased to bounce back with a solid 3-1 win over Cuba, whilst Trinidad & Tobago also got their first win on the board by cruising past Guadeloupe 3-0. Guatemala continued to press their case to be the group favourites, as they flew 4-0 up against Guyana (hat-trick for Gaston Puerari) within 11 minutes. Puerari finished with 4 as the final score was 6-0.
Jamaica were pleased to bounce back with a solid 3-1 win over Cuba, whilst Trinidad & Tobago also got their first win on the board by cruising past Guadeloupe 3-0. Guatemala continued to press their case to be the group favourites, as they flew 4-0 up against Guyana (hat-trick for Gaston Puerari) within 11 minutes. Puerari finished with 4 as the final score was 6-0.
Guyana had a little bit easier next up, as they only lost 3-0 away to Trinidad & Tobago. Guadeloupe took a surprise early lead in Kingston, but Jamaica recovered to win 3-1. Meanwhile, Guatemala’s run of wins was ended by Cuba as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in a tight match.
Guadeloupe looked to have secured a point as they hosted Cuba, with the score 2-2 in the 88th minute, but two late strikes resulted in a 4-2 win for the visitors. Guyana remained pointless as they lost 3-0 at home to Jamaica. Meanwhile, Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago looked to be sharing the points as they were 1-1 in injury time. But it was Guatemala’s day, as Carlos Castrillo found space following a free kick to smash in the winning goal.
This gives us this table at the halfway stage:
Guadeloupe looked to have secured a point as they hosted Cuba, with the score 2-2 in the 88th minute, but two late strikes resulted in a 4-2 win for the visitors. Guyana remained pointless as they lost 3-0 at home to Jamaica. Meanwhile, Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago looked to be sharing the points as they were 1-1 in injury time. But it was Guatemala’s day, as Carlos Castrillo found space following a free kick to smash in the winning goal.
This gives us this table at the halfway stage:
So, things are clearly very tight. For example, had Castrillo’s shot missed, there’d be two points separating four teams. With hindsight, Guatemala’s draw with Guadeloupe was a poor result, and they repeat it as they drew 1-1 at home, despite a late red card for Guadeloupe. Cuba looked to be on the end of an even worse result as they fell 2-0 behind to Guyana within 11 minutes. Partly thanks to a Guyana red card, Cuba pulled back to level at 2-2, before sealing a comeback win in the 83rd minute as Maikel Reyes prodded home. Trinidad & Tobago got back into the mix for qualification as they claimed a big 2-0 win at home to Jamaica.
Trinidad & Tobago’s resurgence continued as they beat Cuba 2-0, both goals for Winchester. Meanwhile, Jamaica’s campaign looked to be going off the rails as they lost 1-0 at home to Guatemala, despite having the better of the game. Guyana travelled to Guadeloupe knowing this was their biggest chance to get off the mark, and they took the opportunity with a 1-0 win.
Jamaica got back to winning ways with a crucial 2-0 win over Cuba, two goals for Craig Foster. This allowed Jamaica to claw back points on both Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago, who could only draw 0-0 with Guadeloupe at home – the visitors once again having to see out the final few minutes with 10 men. Meanwhile, Guatemala moved five clear at the top as they overcame Guyana 2-1, a much tougher game than the first clash between the two sides.
This meant Guatemala needed a win to secure qualification, but they couldn’t get that in Havana, as Cuba beat them 1-0. And the rest of the chasing pack didn’t let up, as Jamaica overcame Guadeloupe 2-1 and Trinidad & Tobago beat Guyana 1-0 in nervy encounters.
So this means that going into the final round of fixtures, Guatemala led Trinidad & Tobago by a point, with Cuba and Jamaica a further point behind. This meant Cuba had to win as they hosted Guadeloupe, but they left it until the 77th minute to open the scoring, as Renay Malblanche’s header was the only goal. Similarly, Jamaica had to win at home to Guyana. Wolry Wolfe (what a name) and Foster put them 2-0 up, but Guyana surprisingly fought back to level. Just when Jamaica seemed dead & buried, they were granted a 91st-minute penalty for Taylor’s clumsy challenge, and Foster gratefully tucked it away. This actually confirmed Jamaica’s progression, as Trinidad & Tobago and Guatemala faced each other, meaning both teams couldn’t win. It also meant Cuba couldn’t progress. Guatemala just needed a draw to progress, whilst Trinidad & Tobago needed a win. Zapata put Guatemala ahead, but Winchester and Nathan Lewis flipped the scoreline around, and things looked bleak when Guatemala lost the excellent Velasquez to a second yellow. With 9 minutes remaining, however, a good pass from Zapata allowed Marco Tulio Ciani to level matters. But there was one final twist in this thrilling group as a corner fell to Kordell Samuel, who drilled a low shot home to win the match 3-2 for Trinidad & Tobago and put them through to Round 3!
Jamaica got back to winning ways with a crucial 2-0 win over Cuba, two goals for Craig Foster. This allowed Jamaica to claw back points on both Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago, who could only draw 0-0 with Guadeloupe at home – the visitors once again having to see out the final few minutes with 10 men. Meanwhile, Guatemala moved five clear at the top as they overcame Guyana 2-1, a much tougher game than the first clash between the two sides.
This meant Guatemala needed a win to secure qualification, but they couldn’t get that in Havana, as Cuba beat them 1-0. And the rest of the chasing pack didn’t let up, as Jamaica overcame Guadeloupe 2-1 and Trinidad & Tobago beat Guyana 1-0 in nervy encounters.
So this means that going into the final round of fixtures, Guatemala led Trinidad & Tobago by a point, with Cuba and Jamaica a further point behind. This meant Cuba had to win as they hosted Guadeloupe, but they left it until the 77th minute to open the scoring, as Renay Malblanche’s header was the only goal. Similarly, Jamaica had to win at home to Guyana. Wolry Wolfe (what a name) and Foster put them 2-0 up, but Guyana surprisingly fought back to level. Just when Jamaica seemed dead & buried, they were granted a 91st-minute penalty for Taylor’s clumsy challenge, and Foster gratefully tucked it away. This actually confirmed Jamaica’s progression, as Trinidad & Tobago and Guatemala faced each other, meaning both teams couldn’t win. It also meant Cuba couldn’t progress. Guatemala just needed a draw to progress, whilst Trinidad & Tobago needed a win. Zapata put Guatemala ahead, but Winchester and Nathan Lewis flipped the scoreline around, and things looked bleak when Guatemala lost the excellent Velasquez to a second yellow. With 9 minutes remaining, however, a good pass from Zapata allowed Marco Tulio Ciani to level matters. But there was one final twist in this thrilling group as a corner fell to Kordell Samuel, who drilled a low shot home to win the match 3-2 for Trinidad & Tobago and put them through to Round 3!
Final standings
Top scorers: Craig Foster (JAM) 7 goals; Winchster (TRI) 6 goals; Ottey (JAM) 5 goals
Highest average ratings: Michael Binns (JAM) 7.47; Zapata (GUA) 7.33; Morgan Jnr (JAM) 7.30
North American Round 2 summary
Highest average ratings: Michael Binns (JAM) 7.47; Zapata (GUA) 7.33; Morgan Jnr (JAM) 7.30
North American Round 2 summary
Next time
I said at the start that this looked an open group, with no obvious favourite, and so it proved with a dramatic four-way battle in the final round of fixtures. I mean, with 5 minutes left in each game, it was Cuba and Guatemala who were going through – unbelievable. Anyway, we finish off our little trilogy next time by wrapping up the second round in Asia. China have a thrilling squad, I dread to think how many they’ll knock past the likes of Bhutan and Macau.
I said at the start that this looked an open group, with no obvious favourite, and so it proved with a dramatic four-way battle in the final round of fixtures. I mean, with 5 minutes left in each game, it was Cuba and Guatemala who were going through – unbelievable. Anyway, we finish off our little trilogy next time by wrapping up the second round in Asia. China have a thrilling squad, I dread to think how many they’ll knock past the likes of Bhutan and Macau.