The final matchday of the CONCACAF qualifying Hexagonal was packed with the kind of high drama and exaggerated tension you only find in trashy novels and international football.
Mexico were minutes away from missing out on their first FIFA World Cup™ since 1990 and
Panama were as many minutes away from booking a place in next month’s intercontinental play-off with New Zealand. But, football being football, and with everything on the line, a pair of late goals from
USA rescued Mexican hopes and sent
Panama spinning into the doldrums. By comparison,
Honduras were clinical in booking their direct passage. Join
FIFA.com for a wrap-up of a breathless final day of CONCACAF qualifying.
The gamesHonduras did exactly what they needed to do in order to avoid complications, sealing up the third and final direct qualifying spot from the Hexagonal with a 2-2 draw over last-placed
Jamaica in Kingston. The game, played on a soaked pitch and in front of precious few fans, began frenetically with a pair of goals inside the first three minutes. Carlo Costly opened the scoring from close-range in the first minute, but Je-Vaughn Watson scrambled home to even the scores after some dreadful defending at the other end. Maynor Figueroa took the lead again for
Honduras with a deflected free-kick from distance in the 33rd minute before Rodolph Austin drew level once more for the home side, playing only for pride, near the hour mark.
Honduras got the point they needed with a minimum of fuss, showing a maturity that has been a hallmark through the whole campaign.
All the drama came from the other two games.
Mexico kept up their woeful form, losing out to
Costa Rica 2-1 in San Jose.
Brian Ruiz, who has been outstanding for the
Ticos in their run to Brazil 2014, wriggled into the box and opened the scoring with a sharp volley after 25 minutes. The Mexicans responded through Oribe Peralta, who slammed in off the crossbar three minutes later. But top Costa Rican striker Alvaro Saborio sealed all three points in the second-half with a free header to keep the
Ticos’ perfect home record in the Hexagonal intact.
Panama would have been the team sliding into the fourth-place play-off spot, instead of
Mexico, had they been able to hold on to their lead at home against an experimental
USA. But, as they say, it’s a funny old game. The Panamanians, needing a win, opened the scoring through
Gabriel Torres after 18 minutes. Michael Orozco tied it for the States in the second half, but
Panama looked to be on their way when veteran striker Luis Tejada came off the bench to hit past Brad Guzan from a few yards out. The
Canaleros, who have improved like no other CONCACAF team in the past decade, needed only to hold on for the last seven minutes to send
Mexico out and keep their own dreams alive. However,
USA–
Mexico’s sworn arch-rival – came to
El Tri’s unlikely aid. A pair of stoppage-time goals from
Graham Zusi and Aron Johannsson (his first for his new national team) banished the Panamanian fans and players to a pit of deep despair.
Player of the day – Jozy Altidore (USA)The Sunderland striker’s contributions to the
Stars and Stripes’ Brazil 2014 qualifying campaign have been massive. Handed the captain’s armband for the first time in his international career for the game against
Panama, the 23-year-old striker was famously left out of the team in the semi-final round by coach Jurgen Klinsmann for a lack of motivation and output. It was a bellyful of bitter medicine that worked wonders, too, as Altidore scored eight goals in his last seven
USA games, making him a good bet to partner
Clint Dempsey at next summer’s finals. And while he failed to find the net against
Panama, the player often criticised for being aloof and drifting out of games, showed the kind of determination, style and leadership that will have Klinsmann beaming.
Goal of the day – Gabriel Torres (Panama)Gabriel Torres did his all in trying to seal a first-ever qualifying win for
Panama over
USA, where he plays his club football for MLS outfit Colorado Rapids. A deft ball up through midfield from Alberto Quintero was flicked on cleverly by the lively and much-improved Marcos Sanchez and up stepped the 24-year-old ace, who slammed an unstoppable low drive past the American keeper to establish a 1-0 lead. In the end, it all fell apart for the home side. But for a brief moment, they were flirting with the world’s best, with the top of the mountain.
The number
2 – That’s how many games
Mexico have left to rescue their miserable qualifying campaign. With thousands of air miles between the two venues of
Mexico City and Wellington, New Zealand, November’s intercontinental play-off will be a test of nerve. And not even the most ardent
El Tri fan would accuse their team of keeping their nerve in qualifying so far. They won only twice in the Hexagonal, are on their third coach, and have lost their competitive edge at the fabled Azteca. There are but two games to go for the real
Mexico, showing themselves to have more lives than a cat, to stand up.
What they said“We had chances early, and things would have been different if we had scored first. But we need to re-think everything and we have to put all of our energy into changing our reality. Things are not going as they should.”
Mexico’s Peralta – a rare bright spot in the team – contemplates everything, even reality, after sidling into the play-off.Final standings1.
USA (22 pts. Qualified)
2.
Costa Rica (18 pts. Qualified)
3.
Honduras (15 pts. Qualified)
4.
Mexico (11 pts. Play-off with New Zealand)
5.
Panama (8 pts. Eliminated)
6.
Jamaica (5 pts. Eliminated)
