World Cup dream must end for Guatemala or Trinidad and Tobago
First Published: Oct 12, 2005
Trinidad and Tobago's Dwight Yorke (L) vies for the ball with Guatemala's Dwight Pezzarossi during their World Cup qualifying match in March 2005. Trinidad and Tobago has the edge over Guatemala as both teams conclude the World Cup qualifying campaign knowing the dream of reaching Germany will end for one.
Trinidad and Tobago has the edge over Guatemala as both teams conclude their World Cup qualifying campaign knowing that the dream of reaching Germany will end for one.
Trinidad and Tobago, fourth in the qualifying group, will entertain Mexico, which need only draw to ensure a top of the table finish over the United States, who will host the winless Panama.
Guatemala will play host to Costa Rica, needing a victory to have any chance at advancement.
The Guatemalans, who lost 5-2 at Mexico last Saturday, lost 3-2 at Costa Rica in June.
Mexico, the US team and Costa Rica have all secured CONCACAF spots in next year's global football showdown at Germany.
The fourth-place finisher, Guatemala or Trinidad and Tobago, faces a home-and-away playoff against Asia's fifth-place team in November to determine which team will reach Germany.
Bahrain and Uzbekistan will decide the Asian squad in that intercontental playoff on Wednesday, in the second game of their two-leg playoff. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in Tashkent on Saturday.
Trinidad and Tobago advance with a victory. If the Guatemalans win, then Trinidad and Tobago would be out with a home loss to Mexico, which beat the Caribbean side 2-0 in Mexico City last June.
A Guatemalan triumph and Mexico-Trinidad draw would leave each club on 11 points but Guatemala would be ensured of keeping its superior goal difference.
Standings in the final round of the North and Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF) qualifying zone for the 2006 World Cup finals (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):
| Mexico | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 7 | 22 | qualified |
| USA | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 19 | qualified |
| Costa Rica | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 16 | qualified |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 10 | |
| Guatemala | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 17 | 8 | |
| Panama | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 19 | 2 |
Matches played
February 9
Costa Rica 1 Mexico 2
Panama 0 Guatemala 0
Trinidad and Tobago 1 United States 2
March 26
Costa Rica 2 Panama 1
Guatemala 5 Trinidad and Tobago 1
March 27
Mexico 2 United States 1
March 30
United States 2 Guatemala 0
Panama 1 Mexico 1
Trinidad and Tobago 0 Costa Rica 0
June 4
United States 3 Costa Rica 0
Guatemala 0 Mexico 2
Trinidad and Tobago 2 Panama 0
June 8
Costa Rica 3 Guatemala 2
Mexico 2 Trinidad and Tobago 0
Panama 0 United States 3
August 17
United States 1 Trinidad and Tobago 0
Mexico 2 Costa Rica 0
Guatemala 2 Panama 1
September 3
United States 2 Mexico 0
Costa Rica 3 Panama 1
Trinidad and Tobago 3 Guatemala 2
September 7
Costa Rica 2 Trinidad and Tobago 0
Mexico 5 Panama 0
Guatemala 0 United States 0
October 8
Costa Rica 3 United States 0
Mexico 5 Guatemala 2
Panama 0 Trinidad and Tobago 1
Final matches
October 12
United States vs. Panama
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