| | |  Americas & Beyond | October 2008 
U.S. Rout Hapless Cuba, Jamaica Stun Mexico
 Brian Homewood - Reuters
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| | Mexico striker Vicente Vuoso (R) jumps for the ball with Jamaica defender Damian Stewart during their World Cup qualifying soccer match in Kingston October 11, 2008. (Reuters/Henry Romero) | | |
Buenos Aires - Sven-Goran Eriksson's Mexico slumped to a 1-0 defeat in Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday while the United States routed Cuba 6-1 after their opponents reportedly suffered two defections before the game.
The U.S. win guaranteed them a place in the final stage of the CONCACAF region's qualifying tournament next year and they were joined by Costa Rica, who won 4-1 in Suriname.
Honduras boosted their chances with a 3-1 win over Canada and Trinidad & Tobago held out for a goalless draw in Guatemala, despite having Cyd Gray sent off before halftime for a second bookable offence.
Mexico, who have often struggled on their visits to the Caribbean, were beaten by a 14th minute Ricardo Fuller goal in Kingston.
"The boys stuck to the game plan and it worked well for us," said Jamaica's interim coach Theodore Whitmore, brought in after Rene Simoes was fired last month.
Mexico are second in Group Two with nine points from four games and are level on points with leaders Honduras.
Jamaica, despite their win, are a further five points behind.
Carlos Costly and Hendry Thomas scored in the last half hour for Honduras, who were missing striker David Suazo through injury.
Walter Martinez had given the Central Americans a ninth minute lead in San Pedro Sula before Andrew Hainault equalized nine minutes after halftime.
CUBANS MISSING
Cuba coach Reinhold Fanz told the Washington Post that midfielder Pedro Faife, 24, and forward Reynier Alcantara, 26, disappeared from their hotel outside Washington before a practice on Friday.
Cuba's state television, blaming its "imperial" foe, the U.S., saying the pair had "betrayed the unity of their team and given in to the temptation of the empire's money."
DaMarcus Beasley scored twice to put the U.S. in control before Jensy Munoz pulled one back for Cuba.
Cuba capitulated after Yoel Colome was sent off in the 42nd minute and Landon Donovan, Bring Ching, Jozy Altidore and Oguchi Onyewu shared four more goals in the second half.
The U.S. have 12 points from four games, seven ahead of Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago who remained level on five points each after their stalemate in Guatemala City.
Walter Centeno, Celso Borges, Armando Alonso and Alonso Solis scored for Costa Rica in Paramaribo as they maintained their 100 percent record in Group Three. Clifton Sandvliet replied for Suriname.
El Salvador, second with seven points, should follow Costa Rica into the final round after drawing 0-0 in Haiti.
(Additional reporting by Anthony Boadle, Horace Helps and Carlos Calvo; Editing by Martin Petty)
Jamaicans Beat Mexico to Give Barnes Winning Debut
Agence France-Presse
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Kingston - Richard Fuller scored in the 14th minute and Jamaica defeated Mexico 1-0 Saturday in a World Cup 2010 regional qualifying match, denying the Mexicans a chance to advance to next year's final phase.
Former Liverpool and England star John Barnes, who was born and raised in Kingston, made a triumphant debut as manager of the Jamaican team after Rene Simoes was fired last month after two World Cup qualifying losses.
The victory lifted Jamaica to 1-2 with a draw for four points in Group B of North American qualifying for next year's six-team tournament to decide three spots in South Africa.
The Mexicans suffered a defeat after three triumphs to stay on nine points.
Mexico defeated Jamaica 3-1 last month in a match originally scheduled for Kingston. The sites for scheduled matches were switched because of concerns over severe weather on the Caribbean island.
The Jamaicans visit Honduras on Wednesday and finish at Canada next month while Mexico will host Canada on Wednesday and Honduras in November. |
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