Lucky Mexico gets playoff against NZ
Print Edition
Honduras claimed the last automatic CONCACAF qualifying spot on Tuesday for next year’s World Cup in Brazil while Mexico scraped into a playoff thanks to help from an unlikely ally — the United States.
Honduras went into its game at Jamaica knowing a draw would be enough regardless of Mexico’s result at Costa Rica, and did just enough with a 2-2 draw.
It got the ideal start when Carlo Costly scored in the first minute, only for Je-Vaughn Watson to equalize for Jamaica two minutes later.
Maynor Figueroa restored Honduras’ lead in the 33rd before Jamaica drew level with Rodolph Austin’s penalty in the 59th.
Mexico started the day three points ahead of Panama and holding fourth place in the group, which would yield a two-game playoff against Oceania champion New Zealand.
However Mexico lost 2-1 at already-qualified Costa Rica, while Panama was leading the US 2-1 heading into stoppage time. Had Panama hung on, it would have moved ahead of Mexico into fourth.
But the US scored twice in stoppage time — through Graham Zusi then Aron Johannsson — to snatch a 3-2 win, cruelly ending Panama’s World Cup dream and gave Mexico an unlikely reprieve.
Goals by Brian Ruiz in the first half and Alvaro Saborio in the second gave Costa Rica the win while Oribe Peralta scored in the 29th minute for Mexico’s only goal.
“We thought that we were out,” Peralta said.
“We’ve got to reflect, and we have to do whatever it takes to make it to the World Cup. Things are not working as we wish.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
