Jamaica win but Antigua, Guyana suffer losses
NEW YORK, NY (CMC) – Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz opened their qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup with a win over Guatemala but there were losses for the other English-speaking Caribbean sides in third round CONCACAF action on Friday night. Playing in their Group A fixture at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica beat their Central American opponents 2-1, thanks to a goal on either side of halftime.
However, Antigua and Barbuda went down 3-1 to CONCACAF giants the United States while Guyana also suffered a similar drubbing at the hands of Mexico in two Group B encounters.
In Group C, Spanish-speaking Caribbean side Cuba fell 1-0 to Canada in Havana.
The Reggae Boyz, who have not lost to Guatemala in 13 meetings, kept up their impressive record with a convincing display.
However, they were forced to wait until the 40th minute when Demar Phillips beat goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez, to take a 1-0 lead at the half-time break,
They then struck immediately on resumption, when Toronto FC star Ryan Johnson converted in the first minute to double the lead in front of the partisan crowd.
There was no comeback for the Guatemalans and Dwight Pezzarossi’s strike in the second minute of injury time came a little too late.
In Tampa, Florida, the U.S. struck twice in the first half to take control of their encounter early before running out easy winners at the Raymond James Stadium.
Carlos Bocanegra put the hosts on the scoresheet from as early as the sixth minute when he tucked home a corner at the back post.
Two minutes before the break, English Premier League striker Clint Dempsey converted from the penalty spot after Landon Donovan was brought down in the area by Marvin McCoy.
Up against it in the second half, Antigua fought back bravely and prolific striker Peter Byers pulled one back in the 64th minute, two minutes after coming off the bench.
Mikele Leigertwood, who plays for newly promoted English Premiership side Reading, sped down the left, beat the defender before crossing for Byers to finish clinically.
Any hopes Antigua had of a shock result soon faded, however, when Herculez Gomez netted from a rebound in the 71st minute after Antiguan goalkeeper Molvin James had kept out the first two shots.
At the Estado Azteca in Mexico City, the hosts had little trouble in disposing of Guyana thanks to first half goals from Carlos Salcido and Giovani Dos Santos, and an own goal from John Rodrigues early in the second half.
Salcido’s 11th minute volley put Mexico ahead after Guyana’s defence failed to properly clear a dangerous cross and Dos Santos, the Tottenham Hotpsurs striker, doubled the lead when he finished off a clinical build up.
Leading 2-0 at halftime, Mexico put the game to bed in rather fortuitous circumstances in the 51st minute when Manchester United star Javier Hernandez flicked on a corner which bounced off defender Rodrigues and past goalkeeper Ronson Williams.
Guyana got a consolation goal 11 minutes later, also in fortunate circumstances, as Hector Moreno knocked an attempted clearance past his own goalie.
In the next round of matches on Tuesday, Antigua host Jamaica in St John’s, while Guyana welcome Costa Rica at Providence. Cuba will travel to Panama City to take on Panama.