Qualifying resumes with unbeaten CFU four scenting victory

NEW YORK CITY, (CMC) – Four Caribbean Football Union teams that started CONCACAF qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with perfect 2-0 records will be looking to continue in the same vein on Match Day 3 in the second phase today.

Antigua & Barbuda, Guyana, Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago have all been in perfect form, and enter this round of matches looking to keep their records in place against opponents desperate to pick up points.

Bermuda host T&T in Hamilton in possibly the most critical match of the round with fond memories of a shock 2-1 victory over the Soca Warriors at the National Sports Centre in the 2010 qualifiers.

When the two sides met the first time around in this year’s qualifying, T&T barely overcame their hosts 1-0.

T&T remain favourites to take Group-B, although Guyana lead with a healthier goal difference.

Under new coach Otto Pfister, the Warriors seem to have overcome the crisis of confidence that bedevilled them under Russell Latapy in the previous two years, and Bermuda should expect them to be a handful.

The Guyanese have regularly beaten Barbados in the past, and they will be looking to continue this trend when they travel to Bridgetown for this encounter.

The Barbadians promised much in the run-up to qualifying, but they have yet to collect a point or score a goal in their two games and, with only the group winners moving on to the next stage, their hopes are dim.

Barbados have drafted in three British-based players to boost their line-up. The list is headed by Wigan Athletic defender Emmerson Boyce, while striker Neil Harvey arrives from Worksop in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and Louis Moss from Wrexham in the Conference National League.

Both of Group-F’s leaders, Haiti and Antigua & Barbuda, are in action on the road.

The Haitians travel Fredriksted in St. Croix to face the United States Virgin Islands at the Paul Joseph Stadium with all three points on their mind.

The impressive Antiguans – led by the power and pace of Peter Byers – hope to add to their zone-best goals scored tally of 13, when they line up against Curacao at the Ergilio Hato in Willemstad.

Elsewhere, Group-A leaders El Salvador meet the Dominican Republic in San Cristobal, and Suriname travel to George Town for a date with the Cayman Islands.

Panama have a golden opportunity to take control of Group-C, when they head to Roseau to tackle Dominica.

Canada are coasting at the top of Group D with six points from two wins and will target another victory over St. Lucia, a side they beat handily in their opener.

Puerto Rico will have their hands full with the surprise package of the group, the always feisty St. Kitts & Nevis in Bayamon at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines face a challenging assignment, welcoming Group-E leaders Guatemala to Kingstown, and Grenada will be looking to pick up their first point in Belmopan against home team Belize.

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