WCQ: CONCACAF, US MOVES ONE STEP CLOSER
CONCACAF (3 qualify automatically, 4th place plays a playoff match against the 5th place team in CONMEBOL):
The US were able to squeak out a 1-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago to secure the top spot in the table with 16 points. US overcame a very poor and lackadaisical first half to walk way a with a much needed win. The team entered the second half with much more urgency and found a goal through Ricardo Clark in the 62nd minute. He received a back pass from Dempsey about 25 yards out and delivered a perfectly placed bomb into the upper right side of the goal. T&T played well the whole match missing a few chances including one coming off the crossbar in the first half.
Stuart Holden and Benny Feilhaber both played the role of super sub tonight and performed to perfection. Holden provided a great cross to Donovan that Donovan just put over the bar. It was an important victory on the road and moves the US one step closer to South Africa. With another victory the US will secure an automatic berth, which will be important considering that Ecuador, Uruguay, or Argentina could be their opponent should they play the playoff match.
Mexico beat Honduras 1-0 off a Cuathemoc Blanco penalty kick in the 72nd minute. The victory places them second in the qualifying table. Mexico has turned things around since bringing in Aguirre as the coach.
El Salvador beat Costa Rica 1-0 off a Rudis Corrales goal in stoppage time. The victory gives El Salvador the slightest bit of hope to qualify if they can beat Mexico at the Azteca and Honduras at home. Not likely, but El Salvador did beat Mexico 3 months ago so there is hope.
Here is the table after today’s matches:
USA 16 pts
Mexico 15 pts
Honduras 13 pts
Costa Rica 12 pts
El Salvador 8 pts
Trinidad & Tobago 5 pts