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Northerners reach climax of round. Southerners suffer 10th round goal drought.
The Americas saw four rounds of matches across two regions this month with the Northerners reaching the climax of their stage. South America however, while allowing the goals to flow for the first round, saw a goal drought in the tenth round.
CONCACAF group one saw the United States take full control as they knocked over El Salvador 2-0. Brian McBride (29') and Ed Johnson (75') put the hosts away to give the 2002 finalists only their second win of the four matches. Meanwhile, in Panama City, Jamaica showed why their fans are always on the edge of their seat with a 75th minute equiliser through Theodore Whitmore. Earlier Roberto Brown had put Panama ahead (24').
The fifth round saw a contrast in scorelines. While El Salvador and Jamaica played out a 0-0 result, the US showed their strength in the group by thrashing Panama 6-0. It was regarded as one of the harer contests for the US but Panama showed no resilience in the second half as they were belted for five in the latter stages. Johnson (69', 84' 86') scored a hat-trick while Landon Donovan (21', 56') netted a brace. Antony Torres put the ball in his own net a minute from time to complete the shameful showing from Panama.
The weeks result mean the US are guaranteed a place in the next round with only one match to go, Jamaica (6 points), Panama (5 points) and El Salvador (4 points) are all still in contention for the second place spot.
Guatemala are also assured of a place although whether it's as the first or second placed team is still to be decided. They started their week with a 0-5 thumping by current second place team Costa Rica in San Jose. Paulo Wanchope the hat-trick hero for the hosts (36', 62', 69'). The Honduras lost some ground meanwhile drawing with bottom placed Canada 1-1. The result could have been worse had Elvis Turcios not scored in the 92nd minute, the goal cancelling out Atiba Hutchinson's 73rd minute goal. Had Turcios not scored Canada would have had a chance to climb off the bottom of the table.
The fifth round saw Costa Rica take full points from the week after defeating Canada 3-1. Again Canada took the lead with a 12th minute Dwayne De Rosario strike, however Wanchope (49'), William Sunsing (81') and Carlos Hernandez (87') provided the vital goals needed for Costa Rica. Guatemala secured their place in the top two and made the Honduras task tricky as Carlos Ruiz netted once again for guatemala to maintain his superb form.
The table sees Guatemala on ten points, four clear of third place with a single match to come. Costa Rica aren't safe just yet although are looking in rather good form with 9 points and a positive four goal difference. The Honduras have a small chance should they beat Costa Rica by two goals in their final match as they sit on 6 points with a positive 1 goal difference. Canada are out of the hunt and will prop the table up with 2 points.
Mexico have sewn up group three and Trinidad/Tobago would have to suffer a horribly drastic and cruel twist of fate to not progress with one and a half rounds remaining.
The start of the month saw a catch up match as Mexico took on St. Vincent and the grenadines. A lobsided 7-0 scoreline, with Jared Borgetti scoring four times (31', 68', 77', 89'). They would meet again four days later in the return match where the Grenadines would put up a better showing, going down only 0-1 to Mexico. Once again Borgetti (25') netted for Mexico to make it five goals in four days. Trinidad and Tobago showed that they won't let go of second place with a 5-1 victory over group three no-hopers St. Kitts and Nevis. John Stern scored twice (24', 80') in the rout.
Mexico played their third match in a week when they faced Trinidad and Tobago and secured a full 9 points from the weeks matches with a 3-0 victory. Jamie Lozano bringing himself upto third on the overall goalscorers list with a double. The Grenadines overcame St. Kitts 3-0 as well thanks to a double to Kendall Velox (19', 85') and a single to Shandel Samuel (65').
Mexico leads the group with two matches in hand and will progress to the next round with a full 12 points to their name. Trinidad and Tobago have 9 with a match to play. St. Vincent and the Grenadines have 6 points with one match while St. Kitts have yet to secure a point after playing four.
South America saw a goal blitz one moment and almost nothing the next. Brazil and Argentina made sure they put plenty past Venezuela and Uruguay respectively.
Brazil overcame the upstarts of Venezuela 5-2 with doubles to Kaka (5', 34') and Ronaldo (48', 50') while Venezuelan Ruberth Moran scored both of the hosts goals (79', 90') after being down 5-0. Argentina always had Uruguay beat with a 3-0 lead by the break and 4-0 ten minutes after that. Despite Uruguay's two late goals Argentina always had the match sewn up. Bolivia meanwhile scored a much needed three points with a 1-0 win in La Paz over Peru. Joaquin Botero scoring the lone goal in the 56th minute. Colombia and Paraguay played out a 1-1 draw in what must have been seen as a missed opportunity for an upset by Colombia. Freddy Grisales scored with a 17th minute goal. An hour later Diego Gavilan equilised. The following day Ecuador met Chile and overcame them to the tune of 2-0 to settle into the top four.
The next round saw three 0-0 draws in one of the lowest goalscoring rounds for CONMEBOL qualifying. Bolivia Vs. Uruguay, Chile Vs. Argentina and Brazil Vs. Colombia all finished goalless. Paraguay recorded their second straight 1-1 draw, this time against Peru. However it would be Peru that would equilise and steal a point from the match. Carlos Peredes netted on 13 minutes for Paraguay only for Nolberto Solano to equilise 61 minutes later. If it weren't for Venezuela and Ecuador the round would have seen less goals than matches as Moran scored another two goals to lead Venezuela to a 3-1 win.
The standings after ten rounds see some daylight at the top but a tough tussle for the fourth and fifth spots. Brazil have 20 points ahead of Argentina on 19. Paraguay sit a win behind them on 16 but a win clear of the next three teams. Ecuador and Chile are both on 13 points and seperated by nothing more than total goals scored. Venezuela are also on 13 but have a negative 3 goal difference. Uruguay are on 11 points, just ahead of Bolivia, Colombia and Peru who are tied on 10 points, goal difference the only thing to seperate them.
22 October, 2004 |
