After six two-legged series CONCACAF has its winners and is now one step closer to sending the potential three or even four nations to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. However, before we get to the fourth round of qualifying let’s review the third round of qualifications.
There were 29 goals in the 12 games played. Five players scored two goals to finish in a five-way tie for first place as the leaders of the round. The players were: Erixon Danso (Aruba), Duckens Nazon (Haiti), Tevin Slater (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Tosaint Ricketts (Canada) and Daren Mattocks (Jamaica). Not to mention some of the matches were filled with drama or some countries failed to perform.
However, there were a couple of nations that did not mess around and took care of business pretty fast. Canada and Haiti combined for 10 goals and only gave up two in the process. The Haitians were facing Grenada, and in both games they scored three goals. Haiti won the series 6-1 proving that their strong run in the 2015 Gold Cup was not a fluke.
As for the Canadians, they took on Belize in third round. In the first game at Toronto they overpowered the Central Americans 3-0 on Sept. the 4th. The second match finished in a 1-1 draw but the Canucks big home victory secured their spot in the next round, with a 4-1 aggregate win.
Then there were the countries that were just simply a disappointment. El Salvador and Guatemala both just did enough to advance to the fourth round. The Chapines scored two late goals in the return leg at home on Sept the 8th to avoid the upset and defeat Antigua and Barbuda 2-1 in aggregate.
The Selecta did win the series 2-0, but in both matches they won by scoring an early goal and then they failed to do anything else. Curacao both home and away played better, the Island Nation created double the amount of chances then the Salvadorians. However, what doomed them was their failure to convert their opportunities in the final third. Too many of their shots flew over the cross bar or bounced harmlessly wide of the posts. In result, Salvador still got through regardless of how poor they performed.
However, that being said the series between Jamaica and Nicaragua brought more excitement then was expected. The Reggae Boyz made history in the Gold Cup by becoming the first Caribbean Nation to make it to the final. On the road to the final, they eliminated the United States in a well-played game, so when they were drawn with the Pinoleros a goal fest was expected but just from Jamaica.
The series began in Kingston on Sept. the 4th. However, it was Nicaragua who got off to the hot start. By the time the second half began the Reggae Boyz were in a state of shock and in trouble since they were losing 3-0.
But the Jamaican did not give up as they unleashed an endless attack on the Central Americans, they still lost the game 3-2 but they were in a better position by just being down a goal.
The second match was on Sept. the 8th in Managua, Nicaragua. From the start it was clear that the Pinoleros were going to park the bus and counter when possible. Jamaica offense picked up where they left off in the first game, bombarding Nicaragua’s defense.
Their efforts were awarded with an early goal by Mattocks in 13th minute. However, the 1-0 lead was not good enough for the Reggae Boyz to advance. Since the Pinoleros dropped three goals in Kingston, a 3-3 final aggregate was still good enough for them to advance due to their away goals.
The Jamaicans kept on attacking knowing that they were on the verge of being eliminated and humiliated. However, Nicaragua’s goalie Justo Lorente and the defense were doing everything possible to hold on to the 3-3 aggregate and the dream.
However, in the final minute of regulation Jamaica’s forward Simon Dawkins made it 2-0 and eliminated the Pinoleros with a 4-3 aggregate.
The last series was St. Vincent and the Grenadiers defeating Aruba 3-2 to advance to the semifinal stage of the qualifications.
With that the third round is officially over and the winners are: Canada, El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Guatemala and St. Vincent and the Grenadiers. Now they move on to the fourth round, where there are three group of four waiting for them.