NEW YORK, CMC – Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz placed in jeopardy their chances of reaching the final round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign, when they conceded a late goal to slip to defeat against Guatemala on Friday night.
Luton Shelton had given the Jamaicans parity in the 61st minute, after Carlos Figueroa had put the hosts ahead in the 16th minute, in the contest at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City.
However, with the game seemed headed for a stalemate, Carlos Ruiz struck five minutes from time to hand a serious blow to Jamaica’s chances of a berth in the next round.
With the top two in each of the three groups advancing, Jamaica now lie third in Group A on seven points, three adrift of the joint top placed pair of the United States and
Jamaica, carrying their hopes of the English-speaking Caribbean as the only Caribbean Football Union side with any chance of reaching the final round, will now face Antigua and Barbuda in Kingston on Tuesday in the final series of matches.In Houston, Texas, Guyana also remained winless after suffering a 0-5 drubbing at the hands of CONCACAF giants Mexico, with all five goals conceded in the second half.
Manchester United star Javier Hernandez was among the scorers as five different players decorated the scoresheet, as the Mexicans bombarded the Guyanese net in the last 13 minutes of the contest at the BBVA Compass Stadium.
Mexico, on 15 points from five wins, are safely into the next round while Guyana, already eliminated before the start of this series of matches, have garnered just one point. Costa Rica, second on seven points and El Salvador, third on five points, will scrap for the last remaining spot in the group.
In Group C, Cuba suffered their fifth straight defeat with a 0-3 hammering at the hands of Canada in Toronto while Panama and Honduras battled to a goalless draw in Panama City. Canada and Panama both have ten points while Honduras remain in with a chance of a final round berth as they lie third on eight points.
