US need at least one point from match against Honduras
NEW YORK: Gaining at least a point tomorrow at Honduras is critical for the United States’ chances to qualify for an eighth straight World Cup.
Mexico clinched one of the three berths from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf ) on Friday night and Costa Rica are close to securing another.
After their second home loss in the hexagonal, the US are clinging to third place, ahead of Honduras on goal difference.
A draw or win against the Catrachos would leave the US in position to secure a berth with wins against Panama on Oct 6 at Orlando, Florida, and at last-place Trinidad and Tobago four days later.
“We’ll respond in a big way,” US captain Michael Bradley said after the stunning 2-0 loss to Costa Rica at Harrison, New Jersey. “Everything’s still to play for.”
The Americans’ fate is likely to be uncertain heading into their qualifying finale for the first time since 1989, when Paul Caligiuri’s goal at Trinidad lifted the US to a 1-0 win and their first World Cup appearance since 1950.
Mexico (5-0-2) lead with 17 points, followed by Costa Rica (4-1-2) with 14.
The US and Honduras both have eight points and 2-3-2 records but the Americans hold the tie-breaker, a +1 goal difference to Honduras’ -7.
Panama (1-2-4) have seven points and Trinidad (1-6) have three points and are virtually eliminated.
Concacaf ’s fourth-place team face Asia’s No. 5 finisher in a home-and-home playoff in November for another berth, which could mean a trip to Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia or Australia, or perhaps a match against Syria in Malaysia.
“You face a difficult road now,” midfielder Darlington Nagbe said.
Panama are likely to win tomorrow at Trinidad and a loss at Honduras would drop the US into fifth place heading into the October matches.
American fans would fret for the next month.
“We know that all hell breaks loose when you lose a game and then all the critics come out,” US coach Bruce Arena said on Thursday.
After hosting the US, Honduras close at Costa Rica and at home against Mexico, while Panama host Mexico in their finale next month.
Teams that already clinched often experiment with young players in their final qualifiers.
Arena figures to make changes. He probably planned several even before key mistakes by goalkeeper Tim Howard and central defenders Tim Ream and Geoff Cameron led to goals on Friday.
Brad Guzan could return to goal and 35-year-old DaMarcus Beasley, a veteran of four World Cups, could start at leftback, as the pair did for the 1-1 draw at Mexico in June.
Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler are centreback options, Eric Lichaj could start at rightback and Kellyn Acosta could be inserted to give the US a more defensive formation for a road match in tropical heat and humidity.
With Jozy Altidore suspended for yellow card accumulation, Arena has Bobby Wood, Clint Dempsey, Jordan Morris and Chris Wondolowski to choose from for his attack.
“It’s all still in our hands and we’re ready to go down to the wire to get ourselves into the World Cup,” Bradley said. — AP