Honduras, Mexico through, Jamaica ousted in FIFA World Cup qualifying

November 20, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Honduras defeated Mexico 1-0 with the help of an own goal on a waterlogged field to advance in 2010 South Africa World Cup qualifying at the expense of Jamaica.

Jamaica defeated Canada 3-0 but it wasn’t enough to put them through to the next round of qualifying in the North, Central America and Caribbean Zone.

Mexico also advanced to the final round despite the loss to Honduras who were battling for one of the three spots up for grabs.

The United States, Costa Rica and El Salvador had already clinched their berths.

"We showed our quality tonight," said Honduras’ David Suazo. "We proved that Honduras belongs at this level and in the final round.

"Now I think it’s time for the Mexican team to speak well of Honduran football. I think they would be able to talk all week about it."

Trinidad and Tobago grabbed the final spot with a 3-0 blanking of Cuba to vault past Guatemala who lost 2-0 to the US and finished second in Group 1.

Mexico went down 1-0 Wednesday when Ricardo Osorio knocked a cross from Amado Guevara into his own net in a game played under a steady rain.

Despite earning just a single point in their past three games, Mexico still advanced.

Tempers flared in the final minutes as Mexico’s Gerardo Torrado and Carlos Vela were ejected after hard fouls on Honduran players.

Guatemala desperately needed a win but their loss allowed Trinidad and Tobago to move on after a 3-0 victory over Cuba.

Costa Rica kept their perfect record intact with a 3-1 win over El Salvador at the Cuscatlan in San Salvador. The Salvadorans join them in the next round as section runners-up.

Haiti and Suriname played to a 1-1 draw in Paramaribo.

In Commerce City, Colorado, the US continued its dominant play, breaking through with a pair of second-half goals to defeat Guatemala.

Having already clinched a spot in the final round, the Americans had little to play for in the semi-final.

After playing to a scoreless halftime tie, Guatemala couldn’t keep pace with the US in the second half.

Kenny Cooper - who just missed a scoring chance in the 31st minute when his header hit the crossbar - made up for it in the 54th minute.

Jozy Altidore delivered a perfect cross inside the box to a sliding Cooper, who poked it just past Guatemala goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez.

Freddy Adu made up for his missed opportunities in the first half as well. He nearly scored twice in the first half, including once on a free kick that sailed just over the crossbar.

But he capitalized on his second try. The midfielder gave the US a two-goal advantage in the 69th minute on another free kick, drilling a left-footed laser just inside the left corner of the net. It was Adu’s first career international goal.

The Americans completed the semi-final round with 15 points to lead Group 1 and are 9-3-2 in World Cup qualifying this year.

Written by: AFP

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