As the final stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying nears its halfway point, the second-place U.S. squad looks to keep up the pressure on front-runners Mexico this weekend against Costa Rica.
The U.S. welcome the ticos to Salt Lake City on Saturday for a match crucial to both sides' qualification chances, as a U.S. win could put the hosts in a very good position to claim one of three automatic spots in next year's World Cup finals and hurl the visitors into a dogfight for the third and fourth spots. A Costa Rican win could make the Mexicans a bit more comfortable, while making a jumble of the rest of the table.
But the U.S.-Costa Rica clash isn't the only one on the cards. All six final-round teams are in action Saturday, with all but two featuring MLS players.
Mexico travel to Central America for the second-straight match, hoping the outcome will be better this time around. On March 30, the Mexicans were disappointed to draw 1-1 with hosts Panama after a remarkable overhead volley from Panamanian substitute Luis Tejada found the net with 15 minutes remaining. This time around, the Tricolores are in Guatemala City for a duel with Ramon "El Primitivo" Maradiaga's mid-table squad.
The Guatemalans have been up and down since February as they look to clinch their first berth in a World Cup final. They started out this round with a scoreless draw away to Panama and then battered Trinidad & Tobago 5-1 at home before falling 2-0 away to the U.S. in a match that could have gotten out of hand had the U.S. finished their many chances.
Now, they host their neighbors to the north, a tall task that only grows more formidable with the absences of their top two strikers: FC Dallas' Carlos Ruiz and Dwight Pezzarossi of Guatemalan club Comunicaciones. Los Angeles Galaxy attacker Guillermo "El Pando" Ramirez will man the middle and wear the armband for los chapines, but even though the Mexicans are missing Cuauhtemoc Blanco, a win for the home side may be a big task.
In Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, the hexagonal's bottom two teams meet with the possibility to inflict serious damage on the other's qualifying chances.
The home side are hoping a new manager can infuse a bit of energy into their campaign, having replaced Bertille St. Clair with Dutch legend Leo Beenhakker at the end of April. Beenhakker inherits a squad that has allowed a group-high seven goals in three games (including the aforementioned five against Guatemala) but which also drew Costa Rica at home. Real Salt Lake teammates Marlon Rojas and Leslie Fitzpatrick have been called in to the Caribbean side, as has New England Revolution defender Avery John.
Panama started the final round with a hardfought draw at home against Guatemala and a narrow loss to the Costa Ricans in San Jose, and as they are riding a wave of confidence after holding mighty Mexico to a draw in Panama City, Jose "Cheche" Hernandez's men could be celebrating Saturday night.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
