You're being mad magnanimous right now... respect All due respect to the others, but it looks like the rest of the Ocho will be a game of musical chairs among the Top 4.
So a win by Canada at home over Mexico and a shellacking of El Salvador by Panama could land Mexico in 4th place at the end of this window (even with a loss by the US to Jamaica)? Wow, this is a topsy turvy situation we find ourselves in.
Christian Pulisic was subbed on in the 69th and scored the first goal in the 74th, and Weston McKennie scored in the 85th to win 2-0. Zack Steffen looks like he took back the starting goalkeeper job from Matt Turner. USA did get two suspensions. In the 68th, the referee missed a Mexican's fingers to Brendan Aaronson's eye, which Mark Clattenburg said should have been a straight red. Two Americans and one Mexican got yellows there. Steffen got a yellow for going far away from his goal for the disagreement. McKennie got a yellow that got him suspended for card accumulation. Defender Miles Robinson got a yellow in the 59th and was ejected for a second yellow in the 89th. Mexico didn't make any subs until they trailed, and they only made three. It was the first time since 1937 that USA or Mexico beat the other three times in one year. Michail Antonio scored in the 82nd minute, and Alexander Roldan equalized in the 90th minute for host El Salvador, who dominated statistics. Jonathan David scored in the 57th for the only goal of Canada's 1-0 win hosting Costa Rica. It happened because Costa Rica's goalkeeper (not Keylor Navas) dropped the ball. I'm happy with the outcomes, but my score predictions stunk. The three teams tied for fifth are 5 points behind fourth. Costa Rica needs to win hosting Honduras and hope Panama doesn't win hosting El Salvador. Jamaica has 5 points from their last 3 games after opening with 1 point in 4 games. They got a scoreless draw hosting Canada, and will hope to get a point or three hosting USA, who, as I said, has two players suspended. In the Semifinals for World Cup 2014, Jamaica won hosting USA. If El Salvador loses at Panama, El Salvador will be at least 7 points behind fourth. If Canada wins and USA doesn't, Canada will be in first. In my prediction contest, everybody predicted Canada to be at least 7 points behind first, and the average was 13.125 behind first. https://www.concacaf.com/world-cup-...n-goal-earns-draw-for-el-salvador-vs-jamaica/ is titled "Late Roldan goal earns draw for El Salvador vs. Jamaica." https://www.concacaf.com/world-cup-...econd-half-spurt-powers-panama-past-honduras/ is titled "Second half spurt powers Panama past Honduras." Concacaf hasn't written about the other two games yet. https://www.flashscore.com/match/OI50qhPm/#report is titled "Canal Men still afloat after comeback." It claims one of Panama's goals was offside. It says Honduras's Maynor Figueroa got his 173rd cap. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_men's_footballers_with_100_or_more_international_caps includies four games not recognized by FIFA, so it has him with 177, and his next cap will tie Mexico's Claudio Suarez's Concacaf record of 178. https://www.flashscore.com/match/M3O3rCvf/#report is titled "El Salvador strike late to deny Reggae Boyz." It says El Salvador should have been given a penalty kick. https://www.flashscore.com/match/4SD8sWg0/#report is titled "Pulisic pounces as Stars and Stripes overcome Mexico." https://www.flashscore.com/match/Ue6dpY9s/#report is titled "Toothless Costa Rica fall to Canada." If you believe Mark Clattenburg and Flash Score, referees missed what should have been a straight red, counted an offside goal, and missed giving a penalty kick.
The Azteca game is likely going to determine who finishes top. Canada is solid for #3. My guess Panama will be the one going for the playoff. Panama should have an excellent shot if they get the Kiwies. Asian #5 is likely going to be a strong team though, Australia, Japan or the Saudis. The first two should be able to beat Panama. The Saudis would be an interesting match-up. The #5 in CONMEBOL can be Colombia, Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador or Peru. Panama may have a slight shot against the aging Chile or the inconsistent Peru.
People are still sleeping on Canada. They are 1 point behind Mexico and the US, have played their away games against both of those teams, and have their home games against both teams left. If Canada beats Mexico on Tuesday, we have to start thinking of Canada as maybe the favorite to win the whole darn Octa.
The bottom four are in real trouble, especially if Panama wins their next game. And if Canada can beat Mexico in a couple days?...it's basically over. Theoretically, I could see someone chasing down Canada given their tough schedule next year. However, Canada could be in a position where they only need to go like 0-2-2 in Central America to clinch a top 4 spot.
Panama 2nd goal seemed to be offside but looking at the exact moment when the pass goes off, Yanis is in behind the last defender. It was a tough call, normally without VAR this would be denied in a high % of times and an injustice for Panama. CONCACAF needs to implement the VAR to clarify things…
I expect that the bottom 4 NTs grab some points here and there specially when hosting Canada, but at this time as they get farther from the top 4 positions it is very unlikely. They will continue exchanging positions in the table as their goal difference moves heheh Panama needs consistency. We need 4 W at home vs ES, JAM, H, CA… and also getting something in CR (3 points would be the best scenario) to have a good shot for the direct ticket. For me 23 points could be the minimum points to get the direct ticket and play the sit and wait game as Canada visits their house of horrors in Central America, but honestly I don’t see them losing that much either, they look solid… good for them.
23 points may not be enough for third. If Canada gets 2 wins and a draw hosting USA, Mexico, and Jamaica, they only need 4 points in 4 games in Central America to reach 24. If USA wins hosting the bottom two, they only need 4 points from their other 5 games to reach 24. If Mexico wins hosting the bottom four, draws at the bottom four, draws hosting USA and Panama, and loses at Canada, Mexico will have 24. Will this be the first World Cup since 1998 without a Central American team?
Can't figure out Panama but them hosting Canada in the final match day could be the difference. Canada better hope to clinch third before that day.
This idea that Canada will get shell shocked in Central America this round is far fetched. Our mentality is strong. Our squad is deep. We played really well on the road so far (In Mexico!) we fight like hell and do dirty gamesmanship now too. Will we pick up a loss in C.A? Probably. But I think we’ll also pick up at least one win. Our individual speedsters who are capable of highlight reel goals on their own make us so hard to contain.
I just have to see it before I believe it. But yes, it is looking good for Canada and they should be favored. Just have to go out there and exorcise the demons of cycles past.
Agreed. I mean, playing on the road in concacaf is always tough, but they drew away at the US and Mexico. Historically and in this cycle, it's not more difficult to play in Central America than in the US and Mexico.
Depends on the matchups and circumstances though. For instance there have been cycles where USA has drawn or kept it close in Mexico but has looked horrible in Costa Rica. Each game is different and they better be prepared.
Im struggling to think of a game this year where we weren’t ready or that we were overwhelmed or that we looked out of the game and that we had given up or were uncompetitive. Again, what do our current players have to do with getting spanked in Honduras years ago? What does Alphonso Davies have to do with all the crappy unattached players we used to field in our away matches in Central America? Will our players who play in environments like the Turkish league, where crowds and conditions are every bit as hostile as Central America be intimidated or scared? Doubt it: Playing in Central America is hard. Got it. That’s it. We can get points. We will get points.
I’ll trust our players who have played in environments like a Champions league final, or scoring championship winning goals on the final day of the season in Ligue 1 to handle the stress of playing in El Salvador. Apples and oranges to the USL guys or 2nd division Scandinavian guys we used to trot out. Mentally so much different.
Just does not work that way. CONCACAFing is still CONCACAFing. Teams get up psychologically for teams based on history and simply just pride in front of their crazy fanatics. What happens in Europe or other venues is basically meaningless to CONCACAF.