Haiti to open Women’s U-17s against United States

February 4, 2010

Haiti, which was devastated by an earthquake last month, will open the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship against the defending champion United States, the start of the 16-game, 11-day event.

Despite the calamity which according to some estimates has killed 200,000 in the country, Haiti has confirmed its participation in the second biennial U-17 championship, the first time it has qualified for the CONCACAF finals of a women’s youth event since the 2002 U-19 tournament.

CONCACAF President Jack Warner visited Haiti on Sunday, committing support and offering encouragement to the Haitian Football Federation.

“Haiti’s participation in this tournament under the most difficult circumstances is a testament to the will and commitment of the Haitian Football Federation, their players and coaches and the Haitian people,” Warner said. “We applaud their perseverance and look forward to working together to rebuild their football program and country.”

The team already has arrived in Santo Domingo, where the Dominican Football Federation is providing lodging, training facilities and other assistance to help prepare the side for next month’s championship.

The tournament, to be played entirely at Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium – the home of Liga Deportiva Alajuelense – in Alajuela, Costa Rica, will open March 10, a day later than originally announced, and will conclude with the title and third-place matches on March 20.

Like the CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship in January, all matches from the U-17 event will be streamed live free of charge at CONCACAF.com. Each game will also be available on-demand shortly after its conclusion.

The CONCACAF event will qualify two teams, along with Under-17 Women’s World Cup host Trinidad & Tobago, for the world championship in September.

Immediately following the Haiti-United States match, host Costa Rica will play the Cayman Islands in the nightcap of the opening day, Group B doubleheader.

Group A will begin the following day, March 11, with Panama playing Mexico and Jamaica facing Canada.

Group play will continue on alternate days through March 15, with the semifinals set for March 18.

FULL SCHEDULE
(Kickoff times in U.S. Eastern; local times in parentheses)

FIRST ROUND
Group A
Cayman Islands
Costa Rica
Haiti
United States

Group B
Canada
Jamaica
Mexico
Panama

Wednesday, March 10
Haiti vs. United States, 6 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Costa Rica vs. Cayman Islands, 8:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)

Thursday, March 11
Panama vs. Mexico, 6 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Jamaica vs. Canada, 8:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)

Friday, March 12
United States vs. Cayman Islands, 6 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Costa Rica vs. Haiti, 8:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)

Saturday, March 13
Mexico vs. Jamaica, 6 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Panama vs. Canada, 8:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)

Sunday, March 14
Cayman Islands vs. Haiti, 1 p.m. (11 a.m.)
Costa Rica vs. United States, 3:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.)

Monday, March 15
Jamaica vs. Panama, 7 p.m. (5 p.m.)
Canada vs. Mexico , 9:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m.)

SEMIFINALS
Thursday, March 18
(Order TBA)
Semifinal 1, 6 p.m. (4 p.m.)
Semifinal 2, 9 p.m. (7 p.m.)

FINALS
Saturday, March 20
Third-Place
Semifinal losers, 6 p.m. (4 p.m.)
Championship
Semifinal winners, 9 p.m. (7 p.m.)

NEW YORK

Concacaf

U.S. wears down Mexico 2-1

January 26, 2010

Sydney Leroux scored for a third consecutive match and the United States completed a perfect first round with a 2-1 victory over Mexico on Monday at the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship.

Vicky DiMartino scored the other goal for the United States, which finished atop Group B with a third win in as many games and earned a semifinal match against Group A runner-up Costa Rica on Thursday. Mexico finished with six points and will play Group A winner Canada in the other semifinal.

Leroux, which had a pair of goals against both Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica, volleyed a rebound after second-half substitute Kristie Mewis launched a left-footed shot across the face of the goal and struck the far post. Leroux, streaking down the middle of the field, lunged and touched the ball at the six past an out-of-position Mexican keeper Aurora Santiago in the 65th.

DiMartino put the United States ahead in the 13th minute, running onto a backward ball from Teresa Noyola, taking one touch and hitting a 30-meter blast across goal and out of the reach of Aurora.

The United States had the better possession from the start but Mexico frustrated the Americans, catching them offside frequently and forcing shots wide and high.

Twice the Americans beat the trap in the first half, but Leroux and Tiffany McCarty both shot wide.

Mexico scored a consolation goal in the second minute of second-half injury time. Unmarked defender Alina Garciamendez leapt to head in Natalia Gomez-Junco’s corner kick, leaving Mewis behind the play.

Until that point, Mexico’s best chances came when Natalie Lagunas drove a right-footed shot from 22 meters in the 10th minute that U.S. keeper Bianca Henninger had to slap over the bar with one hand, and when it hit the post in the 73rd.

But for the most part, the United States played in Mexico’s end. Mexico played without Charlyn Corral, who was carrying a yellow card and was relegated to the substitute’s bench. Lydia Rangel, Mexico’s captain in the first two matches, did not enter until the 54th minute.

It was the fourth time the United States and Mexico have faced each other in the CONCACAF championship, with the Americans winning all three previous by a combined 12-0.

GUATEMALA CITY

Tags: Alina Garciamendez, aurora, bianca, Bianca Henninger, Canada, concacaf, consolation, corner kick, Costa Rica, dimartino, gomez junco, guatemala city, henninger, injury time, Jamaica, Kristie Mewis, lagunas, leroux, lydia, Lydia Rangel, Mexico, Natalia Gomez-, natalie, Natalie Lagunas, offside, rebound, semifinal match, six points, SYDNEY, teresa noyola, Tiffany McCarty, Tobago, Trinidad, U.S, United States, vicky, Vicky DiMartino, yellow card

Trinidad beats Jamaica for Caribbean bragging rights

January 26, 2010

Candace Seaton scored off the underside the crossbar in the 65th minute and gave Trinidad & Tobago a 1-0 victory over Jamaica on Monday in a match for Caribbean pride at the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship.

Both entered the game already eliminated from semifinal contention and with two losses each in Group B play, having been outscored by a combined 14-1.

After having a shot pushed off the underside of the crossbar by Jamaican goalkeeper Leigh-Ann Jaggon seven minutes earlier, Seaton used a piece of individual skill to give the Soca Princesses the victory.

She took a ball down the right side, cut inside Jamaican defender Lia Blake and took a touch inside the penalty area before deftly looping a right-footed shot just out of the reach of a stretching Jaggon that nicked the crossbar before settling in the back of the net.

It was the first goal for Trinidad in the tournament since Natasha St. Louis scored in the first minute of its opening game against Mexico.

Jaggon thwarted Seaton in the 58th when the Trinidad winger hit a 25-meter shot that the goalkeeper had to push upward off the underside of the bar before it bounded out.

Jamacia had the better of play in the first half with Natasha St. Louis hitting the left corner of the post and crossbar from 25 meters in the 24th minute.

Jamaica returned home with three losses in as many games and without a goal.

Trinidad finished with a flurry, hitting the post again when Mariah Shade’s volley of a rebound hit a sprawled Jaggon and deflected off the goal and out of play.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: back of the net, bragging rights, candace, Candace Seaton, Caribbean, concacaf, contention, crossbar, flurry, Goalkeeper, guatemala city, Jamaica, leigh ann, Leigh-Ann Jaggon, Lia Blake, losses, Mariah Shade, natasha, Natasha St. Louis, seaton, soca, Tobago, Trinidad, victory, winger

U.S. claims place in semis with 4-0 win over Trinidad

January 24, 2010

Sydney Leroux scored a pair of goals for the second time in three days and the United States became the first team to claim its place in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship with a 4-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago on Saturday.

The win also clinched a berth for Mexico, which beat Jamaica 2-0 earlier Saturday. Mexico will face the United States for the Group B title on Monday and the right to face the runner-up from Group B in the semifinals.

The United States went ahead in the fifth minute and dominated throughout, as Trinidad managed only token possession and were outshot 10-0, 7-0 in the first half alone.

Morgan Marlborough and Kristie Mewis accounted for the other goals by the United States, the defending Under-20 Women’s World Cup champion seeking its second CONCACAF title.

It was the second overwhelming performance by the United States, which routed Jamaica 6-0 on Thursday. Saturday’s results eliminated both Caribbean sides Trinidad and Jamaica, who will face off on Monday.

Marlborough put the United States in front in the fifth, running onto a ball from defender Rachel Quon in her own half, striking it first time and lofting it over goalkeeper Kimika Forbes from the top corner of the penalty area.

Kristie Mewis doubled the lead in the 23rd with the help from her younger sister Samantha. Quon drove a free kick into the area, where Samantha Mewis flicked it with her head. The ball caromed off of Trinidad defender Camille Borneo and to Kristie Mewis, who finished from the left side for a 2-0 lead.

Leroux scored her first in the 36thrd, heading in a corner by co-captain Christine Nairn from 10 meters.

She completed the one-sided first half by running onto a through ball from Marlborough in midfield and using a one-time deft touch with her right foot to easily beat Forbes with a slow roller inside the left post.

The United States continued to dominate through the second half, even after Teresa Noyola replaced Leroux in the 57th minute.

Kristie Mewis hit the crossbar with a 35-meter blast in the 70th minute and Forbes thwarted another chance by Amber Brooksin the 72nd, blocking her close-range shot out for a corner.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: Amber Brooksin, berth, borneo, camille, captain Christine Nairn, Caribbean, concacaf, face off, forbes, free kick, guatemala city, jamaica 2, kimika, kristie, leroux, Marlborough, Mexico, nairn, quon, Rachel Quon, right foot, Samantha Mewis, sister samantha, SYDNEY, teresa noyola, Tobago, Trinidad, United States, world cup champion

Mexico rallies to subdue Trinidad 2-1

January 22, 2010

Charlyn Corrall set up both goals, including the winner in the 80th minute, to rally Mexico past Trinidad & Tobago 2-1 in the opening match for both at the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship on Thursday.

Natasha St. Louis gave Trinidad a lead less than a minute after the opening kickoff, but Mexico controlled the match from that point. Corral hit the post twice before assisting on strikes by Liliana Godoy and Natali Lagunas to keep El Tri unbeaten in four meetings against the Soca Princeses.

St. Louis, who had eight goals in qualifying, put Trinidad ahead 51 seconds after the opening kickoff. She touched ahead what appeared to be an innocent ball out of midfield, then sprinted around Mexican central defender Alina Garciamendez and – with Garciamendez tugging on her left shoulder – finished from the middle of the penalty area.

It was only the second goal by the Soca Princesses against Mexico in the four matches at the Under-20s and first since 2002.

But it was all Mexico from then on. With the help of captain Lydia Rangel, Corral kept Trinidad pinned in its own half for nearly the rest of the game. The Soca Princesses rarely maintained any possession in the Mexican half and finally succumbed late.

Corral, who played with the Mexican U-20s when she was 14 and made her senior national team debut two years later, hit the crossbar from 25 meters with a free kick in the 15th minute, and hit a left-footed a shot from the top of the area seven minutes later.

After Godoy was denied a goal in the 32nd minute for offside, she outleapt teammate Sandra Mayor to get to Corral’s bending left-footed free kick in the 45th to pull Mexico even.

Mexico resumed its domination in the second half, hitting the crossbar a third time when Garciamendez’s header from a step off the goal line banged off the bar and back into the penalty area.

Corral, who is playing in her third U-20 championship, then created the winner, breaking down the left side of the area before laying a rolling ball across the area. Lagunas, who replaced Bianca Sierra in the 61st, one-timed the pass before a late-arriving Taylor Mims could react, and easily beat keeper Kimika Forbes from the middle of the penalty area.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: Alina Garciamendez, Bianca Sierra, captain Lydia Rangel, central defender, concacaf, crossbar, domination, el tri, free kick, goal line, Godoy, lagunas, left shoulder, lydia, Mexico, natasha, Natasha St. Louis, national team debut, opening kickoff, princesses, rangel, Sandra Mayor, soca, ST. LOUIS, teammate, third time, Tobago, Tri, Trinidad

Canada removes interim tag from Hart’s title

December 11, 2009

Stephen Hart had the interim tag removed from his title as manager of the Canadian national team on Monday, given the job full time in the country’s bid to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

General Secretary Peter Montopoli made the announcement at a news conference in downtown Toronto, formalizing the position the Trinidad & Tobago native was given in April.

“My role will be, No. 1, to assemble a staff and, No. 2, to present a team that is not only competitive, but understands what is required from all levels and to make the players understand that they are the ones that are responsible for putting Canada on the map,” Hart said.

“It will be our objective to focus on the CONCACAF qualifications for 2012. I have no qualms about experimenting, about using the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition to prepare towards this.”

Hart, 45, already has had success since retaking the helm, leading Canada to the quarterfinals of Gold Cup in July before losing to eventual World Cup qualifier Honduras. This is Hart’s second time as manager, having led Canada to a semifinal berth in the 2007 Gold Cup before losing to the eventual champion United States.

“The matter with which he handled the team at the CONCACAF tournaments, Gold Cup 2007 and 2009, strongly positioned him for this leadership role,” Montopoli said.

“His strong technical knowledge and the respect he has within the Canadian soccer community and the style of play and knowledge of CONCACAF, which really at the end of the day is the qualifier for the World Cup…and I don’t think there’s no better person who has the familiarity with CONCACAF and leading our Canadian national team.”

Hart already has won four of his eight games in charge since April, losing three and drawing one. Canada won Group A at the Gold Cup and Hart has was won nine, drawn two and lost seven in his two stints as manager, the best winning percentage in CSA history.

Hart replaced Dale Mitchell, who was fired in March after Canada was eliminated from World Cup qualifying in the semifinal round.

With the appointment, Hart relinquishes his role as the CSA’s technical director, which he held since March 2008. Montopoli said the CSA will name a replacement early next year.

Besides approving Hart’s elevation at its weekend meeting, the CSA’s board set its 2010 budget, approved a new governance framework in principle and committed both men’s and women’s national teams to playing multiple home games in the same season for the first time in 11 years.

TORONTO

By Vijay Setlur

Tags: better person, Canada, canadian soccer, cup competition, dale mitchell, downtown toronto, eight games, familiarity, Honduras, leadership role, Peter Montopoli, qualms, quarterfinals, secretary peter, semifinal berth, soccer community, stephen hart, stints, technical knowledge, Tobago, Toronto, Trinidad, United States, Vijay Setlur, world cup qualifier

Defending champ Canada to open U-20 Women’s Championship against Costa Rica

December 3, 2009

Canada will face Costa Rica to open the CONCACF Under-20 Women’s Championship while host Guatemala will play Cuba later on January 20 in the struggle to determine the confederation’s three qualifiers for the World Cup.

Trinidad & Tobago will open play for Group B the following day against Mexico, with the reigning world champion United States completing the first round of group matches against Jamaica immediately afterward.

Group A resumes on January 22 with Cuba taking on defending champion Canada, and Guatemala playing Costa Rica. Mexico and Jamaica face off on January 23 with Trinidad playing the United States.

Group play concludes with Costa Rica facing Cuba, and Guatemala playing Canada on January 24, while Jamaica faces Trinidad, and the United States confronting Mexico a day later.

The group winners will play the runners-up from the opposite group on January 28, with the championship and third-place matches set for Saturday, January 30.

The finalists and third-place winner will qualify for next year’s World Cup in Germany July 13-August 1.

Group A
Canada
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Cuba

Group B
United States
Mexico
Jamaica
Trinidad & Tobago

SCHEDULE
(Kickoff times in U.S. Eastern; local kickoff times in parentheses)
FIRST ROUND
Wednesday, January 20
Canada vs. Costa Rica, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.)
Guatemala vs. Cuba, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

Thursday, January 21
Trinidad & Tobago vs. Mexico, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.)
Jamaica vs. United States, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

Friday, January 22
Cuba vs. Canada, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.)
Guatemala vs. Costa Rica, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

Saturday, January 23
Mexico vs. Jamaica, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.)
Trinidad & Tobago vs. United States, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

Sunday, January 24
Costa Rica vs. Cuba 11 a.m. (10 a.m.)
Guatemala vs. Canada, 1:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m.)

Monday, January 25
Jamaica vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.)
United States vs. Mexico, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

SEMIFINALS
Thursday, January 28
Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up, 2:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.)
Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

FINALS
Saturday, January 30
Third Place
Semifinal losers, 2:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.)
Championship
Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)

GUATEMALA CITY

Source

Tags: amp, august 1, B., Canada, champion canada, concacf, confederation, Costa Rica, Cuba, defending champion, face off, Germany, group play, group winners, Guatemala, guatemala city, Jamaica, january 20, january 24, kickoff, Mexico, parentheses, place winner, Rica Guatemala, runners, Tobago, Trinidad, U.S, United States, united states group, world champion, world cup in germany

D.C. goes from winless to brink of quarterfinals

October 20, 2009

A year ago, D.C. United managed just one point in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage. Now it’s is on the verge of advancing to the knockout stage.

But to do so, it likely will need accomplish what no other Major League Soccer team has been able to – win in Mexico.

Tied with Marathon with nine points heading into the final round of the Group Stage, D.C. United heads to Estadio Nemesio Diez to face Group B leader Toluca on Tuesday. Los Diablos need a mere draw to become the fourth Mexican squad to advance to the quarterfinals.

D.C. could go through as long as it can equal whatever result Marathon gets against San Juan Jabloteh in Trinidad & Tobago.

D.C. United enters the pivotal match coming off a 1-0 win against the league-leading Columbus Crew Saturday at RFK Stadium, a result that kept D.C.’s playoff hopes alive. A few days being acquired on loan from the Portland Timbers of the United Soccer Leagues First Division, goalkeeper Steve Cronin made six saves to earn the shutout.

Luciano Emilio scored the game’s lone goal in the 10th minute for D.C., which is in a four-way tie for the eighth and final MLS Cup playoff berth.

“Steve did a great job. It’s always difficult coming into a new environment,” D.C. United coach Tom Soehn said. “Early in the week I recall him asking, ‘who’s he?’ and ‘who’s he?’ And you wouldn’t have guessed that today, because he really solidified things, made great decisions. He looks like he’s been with us all year.”

Toluca, comfortably atop Group 1 of the Mexican Apertura, played Tigres to a 1-1 draw on Saturday at home. Hector Mancilla put Toluca in front with a 66th-minute penalty kick, but Francisco Fonseca equalized with two minutes remaining.

“The team remains strong and is always looking to play good football and score goals,” Toluca coach Jose Manuel de la Torre said. “It was not easy against a team like Tigres, which also came to do their job.”

Marathon’s task is seemingly easier as it heads to Port-of-Spain on Thursday to face a Jabloteh side that is winless in the group stage. Marathon has enjoyed recent success in the Honduran Apertura, beating Real Juventud 3-2 on October 4 and winning 3-0 at home against Victoria three days later.

Jabloteh enter the match coming off a wild 5-4 win against Defence Force in the TT Pro League’s Big Six at Larry Gomes Stadium on Thursday.

Noel Williams, who opened his team’s scoring with a 14th-minute penalty kick, scored three more times in the last half hour – twice in the last five minutes, as Jabloteh rallied from a 4-2 deficit.

The top two teams from Group B will advance to the quarterfinals. The knockout stage draw will take place on November 17 at CONCACAF’s headquarters in New York.

By Dylan Butler

Tags: champions league group, columbus crew, concacaf champions league, d c united, D.C., Dylan Butler, francisco fonseca, group stage, hector mancilla, jose manuel, knockout stage, Larry Gomes, lone goal, Major League Soccer, manuel de la torre, mexican apertura, Mexico, mls cup, Nemesio Diez, New York, Noel Williams, playoff berth, port of spain, Portland, portland timbers, rfk stadium, san juan, san juan jabloteh, score goals, Stage, steve cronin, Tobago, Tom Soehn, Trinidad, united soccer leagues, Victoria

Goal spree results in 2-2 draw for Mexico, Trinidad

October 15, 2009

Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago combined for three goals in a eight-minute span midway through the second half en route to a 2-2 draw at Hasely Crawford Stadium Wednesday night on the final night of CONCACAF qualification for the 2010 World Cup.

Mexico, which saw its five-match winning streak snapped, finished second in the CONCACAF “hexagonal”, one point behind the United States. Honduras defeated El Salvador 1-0 in San Salvador and, coupled with USA’s stunning 2-2 draw against Costa Rica, earned the confederation’s third automatic berth to the World Cup.

Trinidad & Tobago, which received two goals from Kerry Baptiste, finished last in the six-team group with six points from 10 matches.

Playing for nothing but pride, the Soca Warriors pressured El Tri from the opening kick. Dennis Lawrence’s point blank header was pushed away by Guillermo Ochoa, who also was caught off his line moments later before a Trinidad defender cleared the ball off the line.

Baptiste was then played behind the Mexican defense, but he fired well of the target from 16 meters. Baptiste stepped to the spot in the 32nd minute after Gerardo Torrado was adjusted to handle a deep cross.

The Joe Public midfielder fired a low shot that just evaded Ochoa, who guessed correctly and Trinidad & Tobago had a 1-0 halftime lead.

Enrique Esqueda equalized in the 58th minute, ripping the ball over goalkeeper Marvin Phillip’s right shoulder from the right side of the box.

But the Soca Warriors quickly regained the lead when Baptiste latched onto Hector Hughton’s ball into the box and headed past Ochoa from the edge of the six-yard box in the 61st minute.

Trinidad’s lead lasted all of five minutes, though, as Carlos Salcido got in behind the defense and headed the equalizer into the net.

The Soca Warriors nearly claimed all three points moments later, but Robert Primus’ header caromed off the crossbar.

With the United States losing 2-0 to Costa Rica at halftime in Washington, it seemed Mexico would finish atop the group with a draw, but the Americans rallied late and on Jonathan Bornstein’s goal 4½ minutes into second-half stoppage time to stay one point ahead of El Tri.

PORT-OF-SPAIN

Source

Tags: 2010 world cup, carlos salcido, Crawford Stadium, crossbar, Dennis Lawrence, El Salvador, el tri, enrique esqueda, gerardo torrado, Goalkeeper, guillermo ochoa, hasely crawford stadium, Hector Hughton, joe public, jonathan bornstein, Mexico, midfielder, minute span, port of spain, six points, soca warriors, target, team group, Tobago, Tri, Trinidad, Washington, winning streak

Honduras seeks salvation; U.S. seeks end to qualifying drama

October 7, 2009

One team hopes to soothe its anxiety by reaching the World Cup. The other needs to soothe the soul of a country by booking a spot in South Africa 2010.

Those are the challenges facing the United States and Honduras as they prepare for a vital World Cup qualifier in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on Saturday.

The United States, which which leads the final round of CONCACAF qualifying with 16 points, clinched a spot for Germany 2006 in the seventh game out of 10 matches. With fourth-place Costa Rica (12 points) looming in the last game of group play in Washington October 14, the Americans do not want to leave anything to chance.

The top three teams will qualify for the World Cup, with the fourth-place side playing the fifth-place team from South America in an aggregate goals series in November. With struggling, yet talented Argentina as a possible opponent, no team wants to play the South Americans.

“For me, it’s pretty simple,” U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan said. “The last two times we went through the process, we qualified with two games to spare. The last thing I want is Costa Rica in Washington, D.C. We will throw everything we can at this game [vs. Honduras] to qualify.

“As you know, anything can happen in soccer. We don’t want to leave this game to chance.”

The third-place Hondurans (13 points) last appeared in a World Cup in Spain in 1982 and haven’t been this close since.

Honduras, with a population of 7.8 million, has endured a recent political chaos. Manuel Zelaya, who was deposed as president in June, secretly returned to the country last month, taking refugee in the Brazilian embassy in the capital of Tegucigalpa. Schools, businesses, airports and border crossings were closed and severe curfews imposed.

“I can guarantee if we qualify for the World Cup, we would be the happiest country on the continent,” Honduran Football Federation General Secretary Alfredo Hawit told the New York Times.

Perhaps in the entire world.

“The soccer team is the soul of the country,” Honduran midfielder Roger Espinoza was quoted by the Times. “When it wins, the whole country is happy, no matter what is going on with the president. If we don’t win, you don’t want to be there as a player. Soccer is life there.”

There was news media speculation the game would be moved to a neutral venue in Central America, but it never materialized.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley will be forced to alter his lineup from the 1-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago last month after midfielder Clint Dempsey was sidelined with a sprained shoulder suffered while playing for Fulham (England) Sunday. Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo, MLS) and Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca, Mexico) are the top candidates as Dempsey’s replacement.

Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda called in all of his team’s regulars, including veteran forward Carlos Pavon (Real Espana, Honduras) and midfielders Ramon Nunez (Cruz Azul, Mexico) and Amado Guevara (Toronto FC, MLS).

Both teams can clinch a spot in South Africa with a victory, although Honduras will need some outside help by having last-placed Trinidad & Tobago beat Costa Rica in San Jose.

If both teams fail to qualify, they will have another opportunity on October 14. The USA will host Costa Rica, while Honduras will travel to El Salvador.

By Michael Lewis