United States of America 3 - Guatemala 1; Jamaica 4 - Antigua and Barbuda 1

Jamaica welcomed Antigua and Barbuda to their office in Kingston with Jamaica praying for a miracle in the other group match to allow them to make up goal differential and move on.  The matches kicked off simultaneously, so Jamaica would have to receive news periodically of the other score knowing that a draw between the United States of America and Guatemala would eliminate them.  However, Jamaica had to worry about winning by enough of a margin to overcome a goal differential deficit should the other match not end in a draw.  A Demar Philipps shot from distance was misjudged by Antigua goalkeeper Molvin James and bounced its way in for Jamaica's opener.  One minute later, Nyron Nosworthy converted off a header from a corner kick.  Jamaica went into halftime up 2-0 and with the knowledge that they were currently even in goal differential with Guatemala for the second spot in Group One.

In the second period, Antigua pulled one back through a twenty-five yard free kick from Quinton Griffith that temporarily had Jamaica eliminated.  With a dozen minutes later in their tournament, however, the Reggae Boyz scored again as a ball dropped off from the end line was sent home by an open Dane Richards.  With two minutes left, Jamaica secured passage to the CONCACAF Fourth Round when a long ball sent from their own half was volleyed on the sprint by Richards as James had come off his line to close the angle.  Jamaica win 4-1 to stay alive in Brasil 2014.

Kansas City was the site of the match between hosts United States of America and visiting Guatemala.  Both teams knew that a draw would be enough to see them safely through to the CONCACAF Fourth Round.  There was talk before the match that both teams might play to a gentlemanly draw, but those doing the talking clearly do not remember the bad blood that circulates between these two teams as evidenced by their qualifier in Guatemala for the 2010 FIFA World Cup on 20 August 2008.  Gustavo Cabrera elbowed Eddie Lewis in the head, knocking Lewis out of the American national team picture and earning a red in the process.  In that same game, Carlos Ruiz took the liberty to intentionally kick goalkeeper Tim Howard in the face, so needless to say, the United States were not looking to help Guatemala achieve any of their goals on this night.

With all the background in this match now listed, it is on to the matchup itself.  Ruiz made himself the bane of the Americans yet again, but this time he did so by scoring a goal in the fifth minute of play.  A long, long ball went over the heads of four American defenders as Ruiz latched onto the ball.  He came head-to-head against Howard and then coolly dribbling around Howard as the goalkeeper went to ground before tapping home with the outside of his foot to give Los Chapines a 1-0 lead.   The early goal seemed to wake the Americans from their slumber.  Center back Carlos Bocanegra, who was hopelessly trailing Ruiz on the goal, redeemed himself five minutes later.  A Graham Zusi corner kick was headed from the near post by Clint Dempsey (pictured, red and white) across the box to two Americans who had lost their markers.  Bocanegra got to the ball to tap in for the equalizer.  Eight minutes later, Eddie Johnson was operating up the right flank when he slotted a slow rolling cross that somehow evaded all the Chapines in the area and came to Dempsey's feet for a side-foot sliding finish and a 2-1 lead.  The Americans did not let up, and their third goal came not quite twenty minutes after their second.  Midfielder Michael Bradley had received the ball on the run and chipped the oncoming goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez.  Dempsey continued his run to knock the ball into the net, making sure that the chip did not hit the post or go wide.  The United States led 3-1 at halftime.

Guatemala were out of answers offensively, so their best hope in the second half was for Antigua to close the gap so that they could advance on goal differential.  Jerez saved Dempsey's hat trick bid five minutes into the second half.  With twenty minutes left, it appeared the referee had saved Guatemala's tournament by not calling a penalty when Ruiz chopped Bradley in the penalty area.  However, with the late turnaround in Kingston and the 3-1 win for the United States, Guatemala have been eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

USA 13 pts IN
Jamaica 10 pts +3 IN
Guatemala 10 pts +1 OUT
Antigua OUT

Goals
Jamaica
Demar Philipps 16
Nyron Nosworthy 17
Dane Richards 78, 88

Antigua and Barbuda
Quinton Griffith 61

United States of America
Carlos Bocanegra 10
Clint Dempsey 18, 36

Guatemala
Carlos Ruiz 5

Match Reports:
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20121019/cleisure/cleisure4.html
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20121017/sports/sports1.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/10/16/united-states-guatemala-world-cup-qualifier.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/10/16/3870550/us-prevails-over-guatemala-in.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqZGO2zvC4E (Jamaica v. Antigua)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzUCgSHmOhU&noredirect=1 (USA v. Guatemala)

Guatemala 2 - Jamaica 1; United States of America 2 - Antigua and Barbuda 1

North Sound and its tiny pitch was the site as the Benna Boys of Antigua and Barbuda hosted group favorites United States of America.  Much had been made of the American's decision to leave striker Jozy Altidore at home, but his replacement Eddie Johnson seemed intent on making all the pundits pipe down.  A Graham Zusi cross allowed Johnson to raise up and meet it with his head, giving the Americans a lead after twenty minutes.  However, Antigua would not allow themselves any time for pity.  Forward Peter Byers bolted to the endline, beating American center back Geoff Cameron in time to slot back across the box for an onrushing Dexter Blackstock to equalize with his first ever international goal.  Seven minutes elapsed before another Zusi cross found Johnson's head, but this time there would be no goal as the header went wide.  Tim Howard was forced into a diving catch by a long-distance effort from Randolph Burton.  The half ended with the teams level at 1-1.

The Americans controlled possession in the second half, but the lion's share of attacking chances went to Antigua.  None of the Antigua chances truly bothered Howard, but their frequency must have been disconcerting.  American midfielder Jermaine Jones picked up a yellow card in his appearance as a substitute for an intentional handball, thereby getting himself suspended for the game against Guatemala on Tuesday.  In the final ten minutes, the tide of momentum turned. Substitute Sasha Kljestan hit a knuckling curveball from twenty-five yards, but Antigua goalkeeper Molvin James was able to parry it away.  James then tipped a well-struck header from Michael Bradley onto his crossbar and out of play five minutes later.  Just when it seemed the spoils would be shared, a cross from Alan Gordon found Johnson's head for a stoppage time winner for the United States.  The Americans win 2-1 on their first trip to Antigua and take the lead in Group One.

Guatemala City was the scene as Guatemala welcomed Jamaica to town.  Carlos Figueroa received a pass twenty-six yards from goal and then proceeded to slalom through five defenders before finishing from eight yards over an oncoming goalkeeper to give Los Chapines a 1-0 lead.  The Reggae Boyz had a chance at the equalizer after a lofted through ball beat the offsides trap, but an amazing recovery run by Elias Vasquez allowed him to make a saving tackle and clearance.  The half ended with Guatemala up 1-0.

Dane Richards, a first-half substitution, made a world of difference in the second half for the Reggae Boyz.  Richards beat Jose Contreras to a loose ball on the hour mark and was tripped just inside the top of the box, giving Jamaica a penalty.  After the conversion, the match was tied at one goal apiece.  With five minutes to go, the all-time leading goal scorer for Guatemala Carlos Ruiz (pictured, white) came through in the clutch.  He ran to the near post on an inswinging corner kick and rose before his defenders to head home with authority.  Los Chapines held on through to the end, and Guatemala win 2-1 to move within one point of the CONCACAF Fourth Round.

USA 10 pts +3
Guatemala 10 pts +3
Jamaica 7 pts 0
Antigua OUT

Goals
United States of America
Eddie Johnson 20, 90

Antigua and Barbuda
Dexter Blackstock 25

Guatemala
Carlos Figueroa 16
Carlos Ruiz 85

Jamaica
Luton Shelton 61 PK

Match Reports:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/10/12/us-soccer-survive-antigua-barbuda.ap/index.html?sct=sc_t12_a1
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/grant_wahl/10/12/us-survives-antigua-barbuda/index.html?sct=sc_t12_a0
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/avi_creditor/10/12/us-player-ratings-antigua-barbuda/index.html?sct=sc_t12_a2
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/1064?cc=5901
http://boxscorenews.com/late-ruiz-goal-lifts-guatemala-over-jamaica-in-world-cup-qualifying-p49185-68.htm

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uNjawxKPzw (USA v. Antigua)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg0fQbTDNfw (Guatemala v. Jamaica)

United States of America 1 - Jamaica 0; Guatemala 1 - Antigua and Barbuda 0

Antigua and Barbuda hosted the return match against Guatemala in North Sound.  Regular Antigua goalkeeper Molvin James was out for a red-card suspension.  Twenty minutes in, the crowd at North Sound witnessed the goal of the day in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Sadly for them, it was Carlos Ruiz of the Chapines who authored the strike.  A half-volley from twenty-five yards was struck purely by Ruiz and became the upper-niniest of upper-ninety goals.  Guatemala nearly made it two, but their effort was smacked off the near post straight back toward its origin.

Guatemala dealt well with the pressure of a tight match in the second forty-five.  Though their offense could not muster much against a resolute Antigua defense, the Chapines refused to bend on their own defenseive end.  Guatemala see the 1-0 win out and move into a tie for first place in Group One.

United States of America returned to their fortress in Columbus to take on group leaders Jamaica.  Jamaica goalkeeper Dwayne Miller was unbeatable in the first half.  Not even a deflection after having committed to a dive the opposite way could best him as he somehow stopped momentum and dove backwards to tip the ball off the post.  First-time United States starting midfielder Graham Zusi was the best field player in the first half, and he nearly scored on two occasions, once denied Miller.  Danny Williams hit a wicked bullet from over forty yards that beat Miller, but the intersection of the posts took the brunt of the blow and not the back of the net.  Jamaica were relieved to enter the locker room tied 0-0.

Ten minutes into the second period, the United States drew a free kick.  Herculez Gomez struck a decent ball over the wall, but Miller got both hands to it.  Still, the ball somehow got through Miller anyway, and the United States had a deserved 1-0 lead.  At this point, the level of energy dropped from the home side, giving Jamaica hope to snatch a draw.  A Luton Shelton shot in the final ten minutes was the first real Reggae Boyz attack, and it would be the last.  United States win 1-0 to move into a three-way tie for first place with two matchdays left to play.

USA 7 pts +2
Guatemala 7 pts +2
Jamaica 7 pts +1
Antigua 1 pts -5

Goals
Guatemala
Carlos Ruiz 20

United States
Herculez Gomez 55

Match Reports:
http://www.tropigol.com/2012/09/11/ruiz-gives-guatemala-1-0-victory-at-antigua/
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/09/11/usa-jamaica.ap/index.html#?sct=sc_t2_a3
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/avi_creditor/09/12/usa-jamaica-steve-cherundolo/index.html?sct=sc_t12_a0

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA_E5d4FBKc (Guatemala v. Antigua)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5CBZjcGpis (USA v. Jamaica)

Jamaica 2 - United States of America 1; Guatemala 3 - Antigua and Barbuda 1

Herculez Gomez wasted little time breaking down the right side of the Jamaican defense, launching a shot into the goalkeeper and then the rebound into the chest of a sliding Nyron Nosworthy.  A second rebound fell to Clint Dempsey, who finished to give the United States their fastest ever qualifying goal, besting his own record set in the 2010 FIFA World Cup home qualifier against Barbados.  Rodolph Austin was brought down by Kyle Beckerman, giving Jamaica a dangerous free kick, which Austin expertly slotted under the wall and into the Americans' net thanks to a deflection off the leg of Beckerman himself.  A sliding Dempsey effort late in the half was caught on a slide by Jamaican goalkeeper Dwayne Miller.  The half ended tied at one goal apiece.

In the second period, the lack of leadership in the American midfield became a severe problem.  The absences of Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley forced the United States to use a midfield of three defensive-minded players, and the lack of attack allowed Jamaica to play without worry.  Another free kick opportunity allowed Luton Shelton to dip a strike up and over the wall from thrity-one yards to give Jamaica a 2-1 lead.  The worry for the United States coming in was Jamaica's speed, but it ended up being that free kick prowess that did in the Yanks.  The Reggae Boyz win 2-1, their first ever victory over the United States.

Rainy Guatemala City was the scene as the hosts Guatemala welcomed Antigua and Barbuda.  The play was up and down, with chances coming from both sides as both teams knew a win would revive their hopes of advancing to the CONCACAF Fourth Round.  Guatemala struck a post on a long distance shot in the early going.  Antigua have not been intimidated by the rare air in which they find themselves.  Leading scorer Peter Byers received a ball at the center circle, boxed out his man, turned on his man, slalomed around a Chapin defender, and then slotted home from the top of the box to give his side a 1-0 lead at the half.  Byers, on ten goals, is the second-leading scorer in Brasil 2014, one behind Deon McCaulay of Belize.

Marco Pappa nearly equalized with a free kick, but his shot his the crossbar before rebounding off a teammate for a goal kick.  Pappa made a run up the right side of the field before unleashing a beautiful cross to the far post where Carlos Ruiz was waiting.  Ruiz's header equalized the match at one goal apiece.  Antigua looked closest to regaining the lead, but one shot was blasted off the crossbar and another was turned away by a Chapin defender off the line.  Antigua's Molvin James pulled off the ever-so rare double yellow card maneuver by a goalkeeper in minute 76, picking up his second yellow for time wasting and leaving Antigua with ten men for the final quarter hour.  Ruiz scored on a two-on-none breakaway to pushed his career goal tally to a Guatemalan record 52 goals.  Antigua, despite being a man down, nearly equalized, but a snap header was tipped over the bar by Ricardo Jerez.  A desperate Antigua pushed numbers forward in stoppage time, leaving them susceptible to a three-on-one break that ended with a third Chapin goal.  Guatemala win 3-1.

Jamaica 7 pts +2
USA 4 pts +1
Guatemala 4 pts +1
Antigua 1 pts -4

Goals
United States of America
Clint Dempsey 1

Jamaica
Rodolph Austin 22
Luton Shelton 62

Guatemala
Carlos Ruiz 58, 79
Dwight Pezzarossi 90+1

Antigua and Barbuda
Peter Byers 38

Match Reports:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/grant_wahl/09/08/usa-jamaica-clint-dempsey/index.html?sct=sc_t11_a0
http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2012/09/MNT-Falls-to-Jamaica-in-Kingston.aspx

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm-50IVf-_c (Jamaica v. USA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xixji-Fkum0 (Guatemala v. Antigua)

Guatemala 1 - United States of America 1; Antigua and Barbuda 0 - Jamaica 0

Antigua and Barbuda, looking to make a splash in their first home match in a CONCACAF Third Round, welcomed the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica to North Sound.  The Benna Boys nearly took the lead, but leading goalscorer Peter Byers had no clue that a nice ball had been played to his feet in the six-yard box, and Byers nearly tripped over the ball as he took a meek shot.  Antigua were better over the whole of the half, but they could not move the scoreboard away from 0-0.

Antigua continued to be the better side and had the lion's share of the ball.  Six minutes in, Demar Phillips nearly own goaled for Jamaica, but the gods decided to spare him.  Just beyond the hour mark, a Tamarley Thomas cross beat the entire Jamaican defense but sailed just one centimeter too high for an open Randolph Burton to head home an opener.  Three minutes later a Jevaughn Watson pass against the run of play found Luton Shelton, who fired a shot into the near post that let Antigua off the hook.  Byers had a couple more chances go begging later in the match.  The match finished 0-0, so Antigua record their first ever positive result against Caribbean powers Jamaica.

The United States of America entered tonight's dance with Guatemala on a seventeen-match unbeaten streak against the Chapines, and that run would stretch to eighteen today.  The crowd in Guatemala City was given plenty to cheer in the opening minutes by forward Mario Rodriguez, but none of his various efforts resulted in goals for the Chapines.  It took forty minutes, but the USA were able to finally get a ball into Clint Dempsey.  The Texan then calmly dodged two defenders whose slide tackles came up empty in the box.  At this point Dempsey slotted home underneath the goalkeeper to give the Yanks a tenuous 1-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the game continued to be quite closed.  Marco Pappa had come off the bench for the Chapines, and he was a difference maker.  At the midway point of the half, he hit a wicked shot that was blocked away by American goalkeeper Tim Howard and into the path of Carlos Ruiz, who then skied the rebound shot.  Eleven minutes from time, the USA were in on goal after Dempsey had snuck a through ball for Jozy Altidore as Dempsey was being fouled, but the referee decided to stop play instead of playing the advantage, a foolish decision considering Altidore had only the goalkeeper to beat.  The reprieve reawakened Guatemala.  Carlos Figueroa (pictured, white) forced a good save from Howard, but Pappa finished the job with a finely taken free kick that curled over the USA wall and under Howard's crossbar.  The final score is 1-1.

USA 4 pts +2
Jamaica 4 pts +1
Guatemala 1 pts -1
Antigua 1 pts -2

Goals
United States of America
Clint Dempsey 40

Guatemala
Marco Pappa 83

Match Reports:
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120613/sports/sports1.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/06/12/us.guatemala.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/grant_wahl/06/12/us.guatemala.three.thoughts/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBgCzUtSo2U (Antigua v. Jamaica)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98tJmnmeWmA (Guatemala v. USA)

Jamaica 2 - Guatemala 1; United States of America 3 - Antigua and Barbuda 1

The long-anticipated 2014 FIFA World Cup debut of the United States of America took place today in Tampa as the Yanks took on underdog sensation Antigua and Barbuda.  The rain put a damper on the festivities, but the group favorite Yanks did not mind in the opening of the match.  Many spectators and pundits wished to take Antigua lightly, but the Yanks knew better.  A series of nine early corner kicks for the USA led to one goal on a scramble pushed home by the boot of captain Carlos Bocanegra.  With seven minutes left in the half, Dexter Blackstock had a look at an equalizer, but USA centerback Clarence Goodson made a great sliding block of the shot along the wet pitch.  Landon Donovan was brought down in the box late in the half, and the penalty kick was converted for a 2-0 USA lead at the half.

Antigua's leading scorer Peter Byers was substituted onto the pitch just beyond the half hour mark, and it took him but two minutes to latch onto a ball, drive up the American defense, and whip a goal into the net to cut the lead to 2-1.  However, the USA restored order on a play that involved multiple rebounds and an alert Herculez Gomez who slotted home an open finish for the 3-1 scoreline that would serve as the final tally.  Antigua goalkeeper Molvin James was absolutely amazing on this night and is a huge reason why the margin of defeat was not more severe than two goals.  The left ankle injury to left-footed left back Jose Torres will be worrisome to the Yanks as they head to Guatemala next Tuesday.

Jamaica and the Reggae Boyz played host to the Chapines of Guatemala in Kingston.  The action was not the most riveting, but five minutes from time the Reggae Boyz had something to celebrate.  Demar Phillips took a shot from outside his box that bounced and took a funny hop that ate up the goalkeeper and went in for the opener.  Jamaica led 1-0 at the break.

Off the second-half kickoff, Luton Shelton broke up the left side of the pitch and laid a ball off to Ryan Johnson, who with his second touch coolly slotted the ball through the final defender and the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 Jamaica after only fifteen seconds.  Shelton nearly had one of his own after a long-range shot hit the crossbar and flew up and back into play.  Guatemala scored in second-half stoppage time after a good rebound from a shot that also hit the crossbar was nodded home with a looping header.  Jamaica win 2-1.

Goals
United States of America
Carlos Bocanegra 6
Clint Dempsey 43 PK
Herculez Gomez 71

Antigua and Barbuda
Peter Byers 64

Jamaica
Demar Phillips 40
Ryan Johnson 46

Guatemala
Dwight Pezzarossi 90+2

Match Reports:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/06/08/us.antigua.barbuda.recap.ap/index.html#?sct=sc_t2_a3
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120609/sports/sports11.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBDrYBSxniY (USA v. Antigua)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FmYbHoIGf0 (Jamaica v. Guatemala)